JerryBaumchen

Hi Don, Re: Anyway what set me off about this was your assertion that all the effort and sacrifice of the Allied countries was meaningless because they weren't landing troops on Normandy the same day that war was declared. I never said that. I do not believe that, as written. I strongly believe that what the US did in WW II, in both theaters of war, was the right & honorable thing to do. I do not believe that what NATO ( including the US ) is not doing * regarding Ukraine is the right & honorable thing to 'not do.' Jerry Baumchen * Based upon the afternoon news that I am watching right now. PS) I do not like war. I have been fortunate to have never served in combat. I do believe in war when it is necessary. Each of us decides 'necessary' for themselves.

Hi Don, My father & my step-father were both participants in WW II. If you send insufficient forces into combat where they will be decimated; is that a good strategy? * IMO decisions during war/war-time should not be based upon emotions. IMO that is why the Allies did not attack from the west until D-Day. We simply could not have been successful. I do not know the numbers, but it does seem to me that the BEF during 2 Sep 39 - 31 May 40 was a failure. The relative losses by the UK military vs the losses by the German military was nowhere near the same. It was an honorable effort; but, with little success. Jerry Baumchen * Based upon my reading, Eisenhower was determined not to lose men at the rate that they were lost in WW I. He believed that losing armament rather than losing men was the better strategy. We could build a tank faster than we could build another man. ETA) I can still remember, in about the Spring of 1948, waiting at the city bus stop with my mother, and seeing a guy in a suit with only one arm. I, being only 7 yrs old, asked my mother about him. She said that he had probably lost it in the war. I can still envision that moment.

Hi John, It was a nice, emotional gesture; which we probably needed. After Pearl Harbor ( which it was in response ), we did not have the logistics to do much. It took the massive mfg efforts of this country before we could do much. My mother was a welder in the ship yards in Portland, OR during WW II. Jerry Baumchen

Hi Don, I see a Door #3) Do not declare war until you have ( if not already have ) a sufficient military to instantly respond to any situation. This is a version of your Door #1. After WW I, the UK & the US reduced their militaries substantially; as did most of the other winning combatants. IMO the general thinking was that it was the War to End All Wars. When Churchill began talking about the German re-armament in the mid/late 30's, no one would listen to him. There was no stomach for more war. I think that the BEF, going to France to fight the Germans, was an honorable gesture. As to any military successes, not so much. * IMO the same thing with the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo. One substantial benefit of the Doolittle Raid was to show Japan that we could, at a considerable cost, actually strike them at home. I guess a Door #4 would be to declare war with the condition that you will not do anything until you have a sufficient military. Jerry Baumchen * This also was an honorable gesture. However, they were nearly court martialed for their efforts. Two Men Went to War - Wikipedia

Hi folks, As regards 'hollow declaration,' look here: Russia, the US and Britain also signed this document which promised none of these countries would invade Ukraine and respect its sovereignties and existing borders while also giving them political independence. See Post #633. Jerry Baumchen

Hi jakee, Re: your idea that anything short of immediately winning is meaningless. I never said that. I would prefer that you not try to put words in my mouth. Jerry Baumchen

Hi John, Yes. IMO a declaration of war without immediate action is a hollow declaration. I would guess that you disagree. Jerry Baumchen

Hi Robert, 'I'm looking for some cannon fodder. Anyone interested?' Ukraine war: Putin seeks foreign volunteers to fight in Ukraine - BBC News Jerry Baumchen

Hi Don & others, Germany invaded Poland on 1 Sep 39. 8 Nov 42, Operation Torch, was a lot later. That is why I feel that the declarations of war were meaningless. The British Expeditionary Force (BEF) was sent to France in 1939. They ended up nearly decimated; and were only saved by the British civilian actions at Dunkirk. I guess we will have to agree to disagree. Jerry Baumchen PS) When the American troops landed in North Africa (Operation Torch), they did not meet any quick resistance. They merely landed and came ashore.

Hi Phil, I agree completely. If you want to read some IMO great books about the battles with the Third Reich, I can highly recommend Rick Atkinson's trilogy. In An Army at Dawn he writes about how the US forces were completely inadequate until they learned how to hate. He writes that that is when they became an effective fighting force. World War II Liberation Trilogy by Rick Atkinson (goodreads.com) Jerry Baumchen PS) By mid-1940 the bombing efforts of the UK began really taking a toll. Strategic bombing during World War II - Wikipedia

Hi Joe, IMO we all make mistakes that, as we age, we wish we had not. It's membership in the I'm not Perfect Club. I do think that Churchill is considered the greatest statemen of the 20th century. * Jerry Baumchen * I consider him so.

Hi Joe, Where is Churchill when we need him. Jerry Baumchen

Hi John, OK, I was going to reply to GeorgiaDon, but this might be better. Re: The UK declared war on Germany 1100 GMT on September 3, 1939, and France a few hours later, followed by Canada, Australia, South Africa, Rhodesia, New Zealand. . . . . . I guess you aren't including them in "the free world". Other than the UK and 'RN' whoever that is, none of those other countries that 'declared war on Germany' did much of anything. 1 Sep 39) Invasion of Poland - Wikipedia 22 Jun 41) Operation Barbarossa - Wikipedia I think if we are going to discuss this in a rationale manner, we need to be specific about the dates that we are discussing. There is no question that many nations helped in the defeat of the Third Reich. However, one IMO needs to be specific about just when. Most of the events that you list, were IMO not quite effective. While the UK did lose a lot of military with their Expeditionary Force, they would have been nearly wiped out if not for the British civilian efforts at Dunkirk. I think that their efforts were honorable, but not much came of it. Jerry Baumchen

Hi folks, Ron DeSantis has long belonged on this list: Florida Republicans pass bill to create election crimes investigative unit : NPR Sounds almost like Martial Law. Jerry Baumchen

Hi Ken, I think it will be too late by then. Jerry Baumchen

Hi jakee, Re: going Full Soviet on state control of the media I understand that Russian police/military are taking Russian people's cell phones & checking them for any contact with the outside world. Jerry Baumchen

Hi John, IMO those 'declariations of war' were meaningless. Britain did send some troops, ending with Dunkirk. France, nothing; until they were attacked. Treaties, declariations, etc are just words on paper unless followed up on. Jerry Baumchen

Hi Ken, I cannot speak for other states. Here, in Oregon, the GOP seems to run the far rights types ( and they get worse as the election gets closer ) in the primaries ( always in May ). Then these far rights type nominees seem to be unable to get actually elected because this state is pretty good at not electing far right types. The exception is Oregon Congressional District #2, which is mostly out in rural farm land. Even then, the winners are really not 'far right types.' Jerry Baumchen

Hi John, The GOP candidate for Father of the Year. Jerry Baumchen

Hi folks, This just about flushes Ukraine down the proverbial drain: U.S. closes door on sending fighter jets to Ukraine - POLITICO A real Chamberlainesk position: any action by the U.S. or NATO allies to provide jets could be seen by Russia as an act of aggression and lead to an escalation of its attack. IMO a gutless position to take. Jerry Baumchen

Hi Robert, Welcome to the I'm Not Perfect Club. Jerry Baumchen

Hi Joe, And our Lend Lease Program was really just the same thing. This has been going on for a long, long time. Jerry Baumchen

Hi folks, Felony charges are nothing to scoff at: The felony charges include attempting to influence a public servant, identity theft, criminal impersonation and conspiracy to commit criminal impersonation. Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters indicted for election tampering : NPR Jerry Baumchen

Hi Keith, See Post #481. Jerry Baumchen

Hi Olof, See Post #381. Jerry Baumchen