Raamin Mostaghimi
2/28/07
AFP Section
Henry Kissinger's America Re-enters the Arena: Franklin Delano Roosevelt
In Diplomacy, Kissinger outlines what he feels are some of the most important events and reasonings behind American politics and foreign policy, and I'm finding that I agree with the majority of what he's saying, especially in this section on the pre-World War II buildup. Kissinger's analysis of Roosevelt's motives and actions is incredibly on-point, and from an angle that I've never really even considered before.
Kissinger's analysis of Roosevelt's incredibly skillful buildup to war was something that I'd never considered before- I'd always just assumed that American entry into WWII was based on Pearl Harbor, and the American populace just kind of went with it (with perhaps some prompting by Roosevelt with the Lend-Lease Act), but I never imagined the country was so polarized during the immediate pre-war period. To suggest that 64% of America viewed keeping the US out of war as a more important goal than the destruction of Nazi Germany only a few months before Pearl Harbor is something that would have seemed preposterous to me, but I guess hindsight is 20/20. What's even more dramatic is Roosevelt's incredibly skillful manipulation of the American populace into flipping that ratio around, to just over 30% just a few months later. In the deeply partisan era in which we live today, where being elected with 60% of the votes is a massive accomplishment, seeing a partisan president garner the approval of over 70% of a nation to go to war, of all things, is an incredible accomplishment.
And the blatant acts of provocation that Roosevelt undertook are just another facet of his brilliance, in my opinion. Precipitating the attack on the Greer was a masterful political move that allowed America to enter into war on the high seas, if not on land just yet, but most definitely prepared the way. It seems unfortunate for the seamen on the ship itself, but Roosevelt had a good idea of when it was worth sacrificing a few American lives for the greater good, and he was vindicated in this regard.
His rhetoric attempting to sway public opinion onto the side of the war was impressive as well. His speeches were pointed, convincing, and accessible to even (especially) the common man. His speeches and rhetoric were what won him the support of the people, and I have immense respect for a president who can do that.
2/28/07
AFP Section
Henry Kissinger's America Re-enters the Arena: Franklin Delano Roosevelt
In Diplomacy, Kissinger outlines what he feels are some of the most important events and reasonings behind American politics and foreign policy, and I'm finding that I agree with the majority of what he's saying, especially in this section on the pre-World War II buildup. Kissinger's analysis of Roosevelt's motives and actions is incredibly on-point, and from an angle that I've never really even considered before.
Kissinger's analysis of Roosevelt's incredibly skillful buildup to war was something that I'd never considered before- I'd always just assumed that American entry into WWII was based on Pearl Harbor, and the American populace just kind of went with it (with perhaps some prompting by Roosevelt with the Lend-Lease Act), but I never imagined the country was so polarized during the immediate pre-war period. To suggest that 64% of America viewed keeping the US out of war as a more important goal than the destruction of Nazi Germany only a few months before Pearl Harbor is something that would have seemed preposterous to me, but I guess hindsight is 20/20. What's even more dramatic is Roosevelt's incredibly skillful manipulation of the American populace into flipping that ratio around, to just over 30% just a few months later. In the deeply partisan era in which we live today, where being elected with 60% of the votes is a massive accomplishment, seeing a partisan president garner the approval of over 70% of a nation to go to war, of all things, is an incredible accomplishment.
And the blatant acts of provocation that Roosevelt undertook are just another facet of his brilliance, in my opinion. Precipitating the attack on the Greer was a masterful political move that allowed America to enter into war on the high seas, if not on land just yet, but most definitely prepared the way. It seems unfortunate for the seamen on the ship itself, but Roosevelt had a good idea of when it was worth sacrificing a few American lives for the greater good, and he was vindicated in this regard.
His rhetoric attempting to sway public opinion onto the side of the war was impressive as well. His speeches were pointed, convincing, and accessible to even (especially) the common man. His speeches and rhetoric were what won him the support of the people, and I have immense respect for a president who can do that.
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