Text 27764, 90 rader
Skriven 2009-02-22 23:00:22 av Lee Lofaso (3:800/432.0)
  Kommentar till text 27711 av Ward Dossche (2:292/854)
Ärende: Re: Question
====================
Hello Ward,

>BF>The basic idea behind e.g. the so called Marshal Plan (the proper
>BF>name is The European Recovery Program) was to expand the US market and
>BF>make Europe and the rest of the countries involved in WWII dependant of
>BF>US exports.

WD>The basic idea behind the Marshall plan was to make a stand
WD>against the influence of Communism in Europe by quickly
WD>restoring uprooted economies. Satisfied people with jobs
WD>and their bellies full were much better to achieve this
WD>than any kind of speech.

That is part of it, but not all.  Another reason was to contain
Germany.  Germany is the economic catalyst of Europe.  If Germans
could be convinced America was helping them, Germany would be
less likely to turn Communist.  And that meant other European
countries would be less likely to turn Communist.  NATO was
also created for that purpose.  Germany had caused two world
wars.  Nobody wanted Germany to cause a third world war.

WD>Some countries benefitted, others didn't (e.g. Belgium). So
WD>your theories centered around a strategy of world dominance
WD>are defeated by what happened in the field.

Some countries were worse off than others, needing more help.

>BF>Objections (as usual)? :)

WD>Yes, from me.

WD>During all of my travels I've met a lot of American WW2
WD>veterans, they are becoming scarce these days, and I will
WD>always walk up to them, chat with them and thank them for
WD>what they and their fellows who didn't make it back home
WD>did.

Americans played a part in helping Europe fend off Nazi
Germany and Fascist Italy.  And many Europeans have thanked
Americans for that help.  But had it not been for Europeans
themselves (many of whom saved Americans), no such freedom
would have been won.

WD>I am profoundly convinced they came overhere and went
WD>elsewhere on the globe to defeat a foe, not to plant the
WD>seed for world dominance. You've watched too many Star Wars
WD>movies...

Americans as Jedi Knights?  Hitler as Darth Vader?

WD>And now you'll launch into a diatribe it wasn't the grunt
WD>GI but the leadership in Washington ... In the immediate
WD>aftermath of WW2 with all those soldiers coming home, the
WD>US had other problems.

Every country in the world had problems in the aftermath
of WWII.  America is no exception.  But America was left
largely intact, quite unlike Europe and Japan.

WD>Go to your local videostore and see if they rent the
WD>classic "The Best Years of our lives" ... or download it
WD>somewhere if/when available.

WD>The 1946 movie is inspired by a pictorial article about
WD>returning soldiers in Life magazine, the story focuses on
WD>three war veterans (Fredric March, Dana Andrews, and Harold
WD>Russell in for me unforgettable roles) with 3 different
WD>ranks, from 3 branches of the armed forces returning home
WD>and their rocky readjustment to civilian life in their
WD>Midwestern town of Boone City.

WD>The sailor returns to his sweetheart who was going to wait for him but he
WD>lost both his arms in combat, the airforce officer
WD>returning home to a wife who after all those years abroad
WD>deserted him, and the son of a store-operator taking over
WD>his dad's business.

WD>Movies like that aren't made anymore these days...

"Das Boot", in German, was quite good.  The dubbed version
does not do it justice.  Watch it, and you will cheer for the
Nazi U-Boat commander...

--Lee


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