A Frightening Parallel

[Crabtownboy]

I began reading the book, The War That Ended Peace: the Road to 1914 last night. I believe it is going to be a very interesting book and a well written very readable book. I am reading it on my Kindle, so I cannot give you a page number, but can give you the Kindle location number.

After the humiliation of defeat by Japan in 1904-5, Russia had a pressing need to reassert itself as a great power.

The War That Ended Peace by Margharet Macmillan, Kindle location number 247

Isn't this what Putin is attempting to do, put the humiliation of the fall of Communism and the USSR empire behind and to reassert Russia as a great power through the rebuilding of an empire?

 

[exscentric]

And one of the foreign news in the far east had a piece on Japans desire for a strong Navy and a less pacifist constitution - they have been building the Navy for some time and are rewriting history to show their past less barbaric.

You could be right - don't think it proper for me to agree with you

 

[Crabtownboy]

They have never admitted to the barbaric acts in WW II. Of course, they have a rising China on their doorstep to consider also.

You could be right - don't think it proper for me to agree with you

That's all right, God will forgive you even if some on the BB will not. :laugh:

Seriously there are other parallels that are frightening also that the author mentions in the introduction to the book.

 

[just-want-peace]

Double post

 

[just-want-peace]

Another parallel, from HITLER'S CROSS, is that of Germany in the 30s to that of the US of A today.

The author did not make this comparison, but he described the forces and conditions in that time/place, and it was a no brainer to see the USA in virtually the same situation - only practical difference being the state of technology between the two countries/eras.

 

[exscentric]

Yes, China was mentioned - kinda like a big srorm.

Wonder where the sailors are going to come from - their birth rate is really low.

 

[John of Japan]

And one of the foreign news in the far east had a piece on Japans desire for a strong Navy and a less pacifist constitution - they have been building the Navy for some time and are rewriting history to show their past less barbaric.

You could be right - don't think it proper for me to agree with you

Actually, Japan is not really rewriting their history--they've never had it right from the start! They've been taught a doctored version of WW2 ever since the war ended. I was talking to my friend "Uncle Miya" not long ago and he defended the Bataan Death March, which is indefensible! Uncle Miya is 80 now, so he was still in school when the war ended, and was taught what he tells me.

As for Japan's military, the drive towards rewriting the constitution is strong, the rightists are in power (the Prime Minister for one) and a stronger military is going to happen. But actually, I think that is a good thing and will provide a counterweight to China.