In Defense of WWII: Chapter 4 of 5

Niall Ferguson, author of The War of the World, describes the Allies in WWII as just as brutal as the German and Japanese opposition. In rebuttal, Hitchens makes the point that Germany and Japan were nurtured back to health following defeat, something that never would have happened to Russia or Britain under German occupation. Hanson adds that any atrocities committed by the Allies were incidental, not premeditated.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Victor
• Davis
• Hanson
• Christopher
• Hitchens
• Peter
• Robinson
• Hoover
• Institution

[nubbs]

one could ask if moscow should have been a-bombed in 1945, destroying, as churchill wanted, soviet communism along with fascism.

yes, many russians would have died. but many innocent people were killed between 1945 and 1989 by the USSR, probably more than would have been killed overthrowing stalin

[nyomythus]

I think it was unclear how a post-war Soviet Union would behave, and in 45', it would have been pretty undignified to attack the ally that bore the brunt of Nazism.

[MrTurlington]

"try as he may, he can never find my G spot" - C.Hitchens.

No reaction from the Americans on panel.

[nyomythus]

That was both funny and important to hear -- I love those lil' quips.

[truestefq]

Thanks!

[nubbs]

he also says it would have been better if germany won the first world war, so...

[jeremyshambles]

i absolutely agree, take care.

[polymath7]

What?! Of course Hitchens doesn't like Limbaugh; for someone of his intelligence that would be flatly impossible.

Anyone who so much as takes Limbaugh seriously is necessarily a third-rate intellect.

[rios9000]

Ferguson never claimed that there was a "moral equivalent" but simply that it was a tainted victory. He even says that it would have been better had Britain gone to war with Germany in 1938 instead of 1939.

[Lotus4115]

Sounds like Hitchens disagrees with Limbaugh along ideological lines but on the point stated agrees.

[jeremyshambles]

im so relieved to hear that hitchens doesnt like limbaugh. i dont agree with everything hitchens believes but that would be a real tricky one to over look. thanks for posting such an interesting discussion, cheers