Wwii

I thought this was about the Nintendo Wii.

 

These United States had not been attacked by Germany or even one of its allies until then, nor had Germany or its allies declared war on these United States until then.

We should commit our armed forces to combat when it is in the self-interest of these United States to do so. We should not do so merely on the behalf of another nation(s).

 

I believe that the US was also unaware of the extent of the persecution of the Jews under Hitler.

 

This is probably true, but even if the Executive Branch of our federal government did know something about the extent of the Nazi's persecution of the Jews, would that--solely by itself--be Constitutional grounds for our Commander-in-Chief to petition Congress to declare war on Germany?

 

I don't see a consitutional standard for a declaration of war other than the consent of Congress.

 

Its interesting

We never declared war on Germany---rather---Germany declared war on us---I believe it was 8 days after we declared war on Japan after the little incident at Pearl Harbor

It wasn't until about late March 1945 that the Allied forces in the European Theatre of Operations(EPO) believed that the war was winnable by the Allies----thats how "shakey" the whole thing was!!!

The Krauts surrendered in April---stupid military moves ordered by Hitler cost them the war---if the idiot would have just settled down and let High Command run the war----we would probably be spending German Marks instead of U S Dollars today!!!(just a joke there!!!!)

 

Pastor Martin Niemöller -- First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out, because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak for me.

 

The only American I've read about that wanted the US to side with Germany was Charles Lindburgh---the idiot "flirted" with Hermann Goering and his paper airplane army--the Luftwaffe and came back and told Roosevelt that a war with Germany was not winnable

When war broke out---Lindburgh suddenly changed his mind about flirting with the Krauts--and wanted to join the Army Air Force and fly a plane---to which Roosevelt responded---He will not fly in my Air Force!!!!

I've read Ambrose's work----one story he related was---there was a German officer being interrigated by a U S Intelligence officer---the German officer told the American

"When this war is over---you will join us and fight the REAL enemy!!"---in reference to the Russians(Ruskies)

 

But he did:

Lindbergh joined the war effort following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. He was a test pilot and advisor for Ford Motor Company and United Aircraft (now United Technologies). He also flew in numerous combat missions in the South Pacific. President Eisenhower appointed him to Brigadier General in the Air Force Reserve in 1954.

- http://historicalbiographies.suite101.com/article.cfm/charles_a_lindbergh

I also saw this mentioned on the History Channel. If I recall correctly he was made to stop flying combat missions because it would have been such a public relations disaster if the Japanese had shot him down.

 

Then I suggest that you should be attempting to amend the U.S. constitution if that is the basis on which U.S. forces should be committed into action.

 

Actually, we did:

"Whereas the Government of Germany has formally declared war against the government and people of the United States of America:

Therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, that the state of war between the United States and the Government of Germany which has thus been thrust upon the United States is hereby formally declared; and the President is hereby authorized and directed to employ the entire naval and military forces of the government to carry on war against the Government of Germany; and to bring the conflict to a successful termination, all of the resources of the country are hereby pledged by the Congress of the United States."

- Joint Resolution of the Congress Approved, December 11, 1941

- http://worldatwar.net/timeline/other/diplomacy39-45.html

 

Several things were part of the decision:

No perceived threat to the US
Turning a blind eye to the stories and rumours of the Holocaust
Big business and their dealings with the Nazi government

It would take a Pearl Harbour for wake Americans up

 

Wow, I am really sobered by that statement. Thankfully that is neither our legacy nor our future.

 

Here is another great Colin Powel quote from

http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl-colin-powell.htm

this one is from Feb 14, 2002

 

Actually, staying out of foreign conflicts unless our interests were attacked is the legacy of these United States until the post-World War II era.

 

Marine Corps history says otherwise.

 

KenH is partially correct. It wasn't until 1947, with the establishment of the National Security Act, that a national security council was established. The Goldwater-Nichols Act of 1986 provided the legal foundation for the national security strategy. The national security strategy outlines our national interests, and provides the basis for the national military strategy.

Prior to WWII, I'm not privy to much information on what our national security strategies, national interests, etc. were.

The primary question, as KenH is trying to point out, is: What is in our nation's best interests?

This discussion could quickly dissolve into historical conflict analysis (such as, what exactly were we trying to accomplish when Teddy Roosevelt led the Rough Riders in San Juan?), military operations other than war (the Berlin Airlift, for example; what national interest was involved there?), analyses of security strategies and national interests, etc., etc.

 

Not really.