Hi Neocon; Re: "For example, the South counted on Great Britain to support it, because of GBs dependency on cotton for their textile mills, but GB remained neutral ..."
The Northern US had way, way, way more industrial development than the South. The South never stood a chance. Britain also knew this, and wisely didn't get involved.
Re: "Similarly, although Great Power rivalry played a part in the French support of the Revolution, there was genuine admiration for the Americans, as indicated by the receptions accorded Jefferson and Franklin when they lived in France, which probably solidified support."
The sympathy for the US was from the democrats in France. But it was the royalists who decided to support us.
Re: "If the United States had not considered Britain admirable for resisting the Nazis, it is doubtful that Roosevelt could have gotten Lend- Lease through Congress ..."
There was a remarkable amount of sympathy in the US for Germany, especially, golly be, among Americans of German extraction. It is natural for nations which speak the same language to end up as allies in wars where they do not actually begin as enemies. Look at our allies in Iraq, they're all English speakers (and a few insignificants who haven't suffered their first KIA).
But I do agree that morality does matter in international affairs, which is my point to Nadine.
There is no way that Israel can pull off a "final solution" against the Palestinians. International backlash would destroy them.
-- Carl |
