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In 1939, while Germany was busy invading Poland, the rest of the world was busy doing nothing. They had declared war on Germany, but that’s as far as it had gotten – which was a shame because we later found out that we could have stopped Germany completely with very little effort.

Here’s a bit from the Wikipedia entry on the Phoney War:

At the Nuremberg Trials, Alfred Jodl said that “if we did not collapse already in the year 1939 that was due only to the fact that during the Polish campaign, the approximately 110 French and British divisions in the West were held completely inactive against the 23 German divisions.”

In 1939, while Germany was busy invading Poland, the rest of the world was busy doing nothing. They had declared war on Germany, but that’s as far as it had gotten – which was a shame because we later found out that we could have stopped Germany completely with very little effort.

Here’s a bit from the Wikipedia entry on the Phoney War:

At the Nuremberg Trials, Alfred Jodl said that “if we did not collapse already in the year 1939 that was due only to the fact that during the Polish campaign, the approximately 110 French and British divisions in the West were held completely inactive against the 23 German divisions.”

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As I may have mentioned before, I’m reading “In the Garden of Beasts” by Erik Larson. Exceptionally well written. Chilling.

Anyway, I continue to be chilled, more and more by the parallels between the run-up to World War II and the situation that we experience, right now. Then, as now, we have a despotic ruler terrorizing his own citizens and threatening to exterminate the Jews. Then, as now, we have nations around the world attempting to placate aggression by throwing innocent countries to this wolf. Then, as now, we have a well-developed PR machine allied to the despotic regime attempting to neutralize any hint of the truth coming to light. Then, as now, we are in peril of our lives, and we’re not paying attention.

As I may have mentioned before, I’m reading “In the Garden of Beasts” by Erik Larson. Exceptionally well written. Chilling.

Anyway, I continue to be chilled, more and more by the parallels between the run-up to World War II and the situation that we experience, right now. Then, as now, we have a despotic ruler terrorizing his own citizens and threatening to exterminate the Jews. Then, as now, we have nations around the world attempting to placate aggression by throwing innocent countries to this wolf. Then, as now, we have a well-developed PR machine allied to the despotic regime attempting to neutralize any hint of the truth coming to light. Then, as now, we are in peril of our lives, and we’re not paying attention.

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Very few non-Jews seem interested in what it means to be Jewish, and what it means to be Israeli. Most gentiles come with this romantic conception of Abraham, Isaac, Moses and King David, and fail to see the essence of the people.

When I saw Glenn Beck embark on this campaign for Restoring Courage, I mentally cringed expecting a sugar-coated, Westernized view of Israel. I was ready for him to run about, blowing the shofar, wrapping himself in the flag of Israel and totally miss the people. I was expecting all that…

But, that’s not what he gave us.

Very few non-Jews seem interested in what it means to be Jewish, and what it means to be Israeli. Most gentiles come with this romantic conception of Abraham, Isaac, Moses and King David, and fail to see the essence of the people.

When I saw Glenn Beck embark on this campaign for Restoring Courage, I mentally cringed expecting a sugar-coated, Westernized view of Israel. I was ready for him to run about, blowing the shofar, wrapping himself in the flag of Israel and totally miss the people. I was expecting all that…

But, that’s not what he gave us.

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What I am about to do now will probably make me really upset. How do I know this? Well, that’s what happened the last time I worked out a doomsday scenario.

But, before I get into my latest thisishowitreallygoesbad, let’s check to see how I did with the previous one. We are three and a half years into it and…

Here is where I was right:

• Russia strengthens ties with Iran

• The US economy descends into a shallow-dip recession. (Actually, I wasn’t pessimistic enough)

• A Democrat President is elected on a platform of jobs and ‘bringing the troops home’

What I am about to do now will probably make me really upset. How do I know this? Well, that’s what happened the last time I worked out a doomsday scenario.

But, before I get into my latest thisishowitreallygoesbad, let’s check to see how I did with the previous one. We are three and a half years into it and…

Here is where I was right:

• Russia strengthens ties with Iran

• The US economy descends into a shallow-dip recession. (Actually, I wasn’t pessimistic enough)

• A Democrat President is elected on a platform of jobs and ‘bringing the troops home’

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Now, let me get something straight here. I’m a little confused.

The Sarkozy government wants the rest of Europe to SCALE BACK on its involvement with Iran?

I hope that you don’t mind my incredulity, but isn’t that a bit tepid?

I’ve been racking my brain to find a suitable metaphor, and I think that I’ve hit on one. Y’all feel free to help me out with a better one. 

What would you do if, say, a gang set up a gas station near your neighborhood with the goal of using the profits to create a drug lab? Near your neighborhood?

Now, let me get something straight here. I’m a little confused.

The Sarkozy government wants the rest of Europe to SCALE BACK on its involvement with Iran?

I hope that you don’t mind my incredulity, but isn’t that a bit tepid?

I’ve been racking my brain to find a suitable metaphor, and I think that I’ve hit on one. Y’all feel free to help me out with a better one. 

What would you do if, say, a gang set up a gas station near your neighborhood with the goal of using the profits to create a drug lab? Near your neighborhood?

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