Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Hawkmoon who wrote (87743)	3/29/2003 4:06:46 PM
From: JohnM	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

An interesting post, Hawk, particularly since 90% is straightforward. Only 10% that insulting tone you can't seem to resist. Your argument here makes sense as a factual argument. No disagreement. However, that doesn't go to your original contention that Wilsonian doctrine envisioned imposing democracy by force as witnessed by the actions of the allied powers in Germany at the end of WWI. Those actions do illustrate the obvious principle that wartime victors get to establish the terms under which they will negotiate. But I don't see anything beyond that. To return, however, to the original point. It seems to me it could be made in at least one of three ways: (1) some indication that US entry into the war was justified to the American population by arguing the US would participate in imposing democracy on Germany; (2) some clear statements in speeches during the war or after asserting the doctrinal importance of such an imposition (the strongest would have been for it to have been one of the fourteen points); and/or (3) some indication that, in the division of the globe that followed, some attention was being paid to imposing democracy by force on countries with authoritarian states. At the moment, I can't find any evidence that supports your argument. But I'm still early at this. If this discussion interests me enough, I may take a look at the new book on those end of the war negotiations.