..but do not forget that many of the allies, on a per capita basis, took a real sh*t kicking in the first and second world wars - many of the allies joined these efforts almost from day one of them being declared. In WWII almost 10% of the entire Canadian population was involved in mostly voluntary military service.
Mark,
Not to break out in a binge of isolationist fervor, but what happened in Europe was Europe's fault.
Europeans have a history of thumping on one another at least twice a century.
And with a population of some 130+ million people (1940 census), the US had some 12-14 million men and women under arms (many volunteers as well), supplied some 80-90% of all Allied war material, and after the war rebuilt not only our allies, but our former enemies as well and gave them a market into which they could sell their goods.
Now if undertaking that kind of responsibility doesn't bear giving the US a little credit for jumping into a war (Europe) that wasn't of our making and was primarily due to the parochial politics and posturing of European nation states, then I suggest this country pull in its horns and shut down the borders. Then we'll see who gets taken for granted. (boy am I feeling testy on this topic... :0)
Btw, Canada lost many of its fine soldiers because your higher quality leadership was subjugated to inept British military generals such as Montgomery (D-Day/Caen/Market-Garden debacle) and Mountbatten (creator of the Dieppe raid).
Regards,
Ron
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