Please, feel free to rant; I've been feeling rather lonely in that department in the last year, especially the first six or seven months. As I have always said, regardless of the rhetoric of the west, we have not embraced from the outset that this is his is the greatest challenge to European and Western security interests since World War 2, a war over Ukraine's existential existence and a war between the aspiring and actual democratic world and the totalitarian autocratic and anti western world.
On the news I heard a commentator mention a speech by FDR, upon the introduction of Lend Lease at the annual Press Correspondents Dinner. It is a a model of leadership, the kind of vision and rallying call we have needed since the war began...
Excerpts from the speech do not do it full justice, but a transcript and sound recording can be obtained and/or heard here:
millercenter.org
The object lesson is that FDR, even before the US was attacked, had a clear understanding of the beast the world's free nations faced, and he noted it wasn't over "border differences" or colonial territories. He understood that this was a war between two systems, and the one that loathed democracy as their existential enemy would eradicate it upon the first glimmer of a free nation's presence.
And understood the outcome of this conflict will depend on our will:
Upon that will depends the survival of the vital bridge across the ocean—the bridge of ships that carry the arms and the food for those who are fighting the good fight.
Upon that will depends our ability to aid other Nations which may determine to offer resistance.
Upon that will may depend practical assistance to people now living in Nations that have been overrun, should they find the opportunity to strike back in an effort to regain their liberties and may that day come soon!
This will of the American people will not be frustrated, either by threats from powerful enemies abroad or by small, selfish groups or individuals at home.
And:
There is no longer the slightest question or doubt that the American people recognize the extreme seriousness of the present situation. That is why they have demanded, and got, a policy of unqualified, immediate, all-out aid for Britain, for Greece, for China, and for all the Governments in exile whose homelands are temporarily occupied by the aggressors.
And from now on that aid will be increased—and yet again increased—until total victory has been won.
The British are stronger than ever in the magnificent morale that has enabled them to endure all the dark days and the shattered nights of the past ten months. ...
In this historic crisis, Britain is blessed with a brilliant and great leader in Winston Churchill. But, knowing him, no one knows better than Mr. Churchill himself that it is not alone his stirring words and valiant deeds that give the British their superb morale. The essence of that morale is in the masses of plain people who are completely clear in their minds about the one essential fact—that they would rather die as free men than live as slaves.
These plain people—civilians as well as soldiers and sailors and airmen—women and girls as well as men and boys—they are fighting in the front line of civilization at this moment, and they are holding that line with a fortitude that will forever be the pride and the inspiration of all free men on every continent, on every isle of the sea.
The British people and their Grecian allies need ships. From America, they will get ships.
They need planes. From America, they will get planes.
From America they need food. From America, they will get food.
They need tanks and guns and ammunition and supplies of all kinds. From America, they will get tanks and guns and ammunition and supplies of all kinds. ...
And so our country is going to be what our people have proclaimed it must be—the arsenal of democracy.
Our country is going to play its full part.
Cont
www.cnn.com
