We will be lucky to get through the remainder of President Obama's term in office without a major catastrophe. Leading up to World War II, the Western democracies followed feckless policies remarkably similar to those we are following today.

When Alfred E. Neuman said "What me worry?" on the cover of Mad magazine, it was funny. But this message was not nearly as funny coming from President Barack Obama and his National Security Advisor, Susan Rice.

In a musical comedy, it would be hilarious to have the president send out his "happy talk" message by someone whose credibility was already thoroughly discredited by her serial lies on television about the Benghazi terrorist attack in 2012.

Unfortunately -- indeed, tragically -- the world today is about as far from a musical comedy as you can get, with terrorists rampaging across the Middle East, leaving a trail of unspeakable atrocities in their wake, and with Iran moving closer to producing a nuclear bomb, with an intercontinental missile on the horizon.

We will be lucky to get through the remainder of President Obama's term in office without a major catastrophe, from which we may or may not recover.

Iran has announced repeatedly that it plans to wipe Israel off the face of the earth. But you don't need an intercontinental missile to reach Israel from Iran. Teheran is less than a thousand miles from Jerusalem. As was said long ago, "Send not to know for whom the bell tolls. It tolls for thee."

It was painfully ironic to hear Ms. Rice tell us that the danger we face today is not as serious as the dangers we faced in World War II.

Anyone who has actually studied the period that led up to World War II knows that the Western democracies followed feckless policies remarkably similar to those that we are following today. And anyone who studies that war itself knows that the West came dangerously close to losing it before finally getting their act together and turning things around.

In a nuclear age, we may not have time to let reality finally sink in on our leaders and wake up the public to the dangers.

There was lots of "happy talk" in the West while Hitler was building up his Nazi war machine during the 1930s, as the Western intelligentsia were urging the democracies to disarm.

The dangers of Hitler's sudden rise to power in Germany during the early 1930s were played down, and even ridiculed, by politicians, journalists and the intelligentsia in both Britain and France.

A temporary political setback for the Nazis in 1933 was hailed by a French newspaper as "the piteous end of Hitlerism" and a British newspaper said even earlier that Hitler was "done for." Prominent British intellectual Harold Laski opined that Hitler was "a cheap conspirator rather than an inspired revolutionary, the creature of circumstances rather than the maker of destiny."

In other words, Hitler and the Nazis were the "junior varsity" of their day, in the eyes of the know-it-alls.

Even after Hitler consolidated his political power in Germany, imposed a dictatorship and began building up a massive war machine, the Western democracies continued to believe that they could reach a peaceful understanding with him.

There was euphoria in the West when British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain returned from a conference in Munich, waving an agreement signed by Hitler, and declaring that it meant "peace for our time." Our time turned out to be less than one year before the biggest and most ghastly war in history broke out in 1939.

Today, when people can graduate from even our most prestigious colleges and universities utterly ignorant of history, many people -- even in high places -- have no idea how close the Western democracies came to losing World War II.

For the first three years of that war, the West lost battle after battle in both Europe and Asia. France collapsed and surrendered after just six weeks of fighting, and few expected the British to survive the blitzkrieg Hitler unleashed on them from the air. Americans were defeated by the Japanese in the Philippines and, as prisoners of war, faced the horrors of the infamous Bataan death march.

When the British finally won the battle of El Alamein in North Africa in November 1942, this was their first victory, more than three years after Britain entered the war.

A nuclear war is not likely to last three years, so there is unlikely to be time enough to recover from years of glib, foolish words and catastrophic decisions.

- Thomas Sowell 

More AFN stuff. 

Happy Talk!

 

Wonderful Show. 

Pick a Little 

More AFN stuff.

No, more Thomas Sowell stuff. Do you have a problem reading? 

You saying this was not published by AFN?

Whether it's a story about prayer in public schools, workplace restrictions on Christians, or battles for biblical truth within our denominations, the American Family News Network (AFN) is here to tell you what the newsmakers are saying. 

You saying this was not published by AFN?

Are you really that lacking in comprehension skills? Publishers don't write the articles. 

Are you truly not familiar with who Thomas Sowell is? AFN may have published his article. But big shocker, his articles get published everywhere!

And he's always right. And I fear he is right this time too. 

boogy boogy boogy! 

boogy boogy boogy!

LOL, so you are either going to dance, hurry or leave. Hope it's the latter. 

You saying this was not published by AFN?

It's a simple question, Jake.

Are you truly not familiar with who Thomas Sowell is?

Are you truly not familiar with who I am? My opinion is just as valid. They're both opinions. 

My opinion is just as valid.

LOL, now that's funny. 

I'm bracing myself for World War III and trying to figure out how best to weather it. It's inevitable.

If anyone ever wondered what the world would look like without a strong America, well, take a look around. 

You saying this was not published by AFN?

It's a simple question, Jake.

It's still a simple question.

Even YOUR opinion is just as valid. It's still opinion, having equal value. 

It's still a simple question.

Your question was answered. Learn to comprehend.

FYI, all opinions don't have equal value. Get a clue. 

It's still a simple question.

You saying that the article was not published by AFN?

all opinions don't have equal value.

You saying that your opinions are not equal to Sowell's. I think they are.

You saying that your opinions are not equal to others? I think they are.

Not greater value, but equal to. 

You saying that your opinions are not equal to Sowell's. I think they are.

You saying that your opinions are not equal to others? I think they are.

Not greater value, but equal to.

You either intentionally make ridiculous posts or you just don't know how to comprehend what you read.

FYI, opinions are based upon what a person knows (or think they know). The more knowledge a person obtains through facts/data, the more accurate their opinions will be.

In other words, since you don't base your opinions upon facts, your opinions have no merit. 

FYI, opinions are based upon what a person knows (or think they know)

Yes, Jake. Very true.

Nowhere can I find a definition of opinion that indicates certainty. 

Gym day for me.

Let me know when you determine that the article was or wasn't published by AFN.

I'll check later. 

Unfortunately, there's a big difference between this situation and the behavior leading up to WW11- these terrorists aren't a country, so it's much harder to defeat them- they're criminally insane, and have no fear of dying- I'm encouraged that Middle Eastern countries are getting involved now, due to the indiscrimate killing of other Mulims- that act on their part maybe be their undoing. 

I'm encouraged that Middle Eastern countries are getting involved now, due to the indiscrimate killing of other Mulims- that act on their part maybe be their undoing.

I'm encouraged also Tat. For this problem, the solution has to be Muslim. The US cannot resolve the current mess. 

Hey Jake. Did the AFN publish the Sowell article? 

Hey Butter? Are you familiar with the ad hominem fallacy?

Tat good point. Even the Nazis didn't want to die. This is way more bizarre.

I do think that they have thoroughly ticked off enough major players in the world that we could band together to remove ISIS from the planet. But what is taking so long? Do it already. 

Poor ISIS doesn't know that it IS the 72 virgins. . . . 

Hey Butter? Are you familiar with the ad hominem fallacy?


Yes.

I did/do not challenge the writers position. It's his opinion. No more or less valid than others.

My curiosity is that Jake doesn't want to link the piece to AFN. It was, in fact, published by AFN. I strongly suspect that's the source for Jake's copy/paste. 

My curiosity is that Jake doesn't want to link the piece to AFN.

Why should I link it to AFN, when Thomas Sowell wrote it? AFN didn't write the article.

No more or less valid than others.

You are still incorrect. 

What a complete piece of tripe!!!!! 

Why should I link it to AFN, when Thomas Sowell wrote it? AFN didn't write the article.

One News and all the associated website is copyrighted. Sowell is a paid contributor.

No more or less valid than others
True statement. 

One News and all the associated website is copyrighted.

So? He didn't give up his authorship otherwise he wouldn't have been able to post it on OTHER websites. Please get a clue.

No more or less valid than others

False statement 

So Jake. What was your source? You probably didn't purchase the piece.

It's unchristian to lie. 

My source was Thomas Sowell, which I have already stated. Sorry that you can't understand what people post. 

Shiver. The frightened right has many bogey men.

Jesus wants troops on the ground damnit 

My source was Thomas Sowell, which I have already stated.

Thomas Sowell's work is syndicated. It's for sale. Did you purchase a publishing right? 

Bean, you don't know what you're talking about. Take a break and chill out. You know how to do that - just push the button. 

You saying that Sowell's articles are not copyrighted and syndicated? 

I read Thomas Sowell on Creator's.com - yes he is syndicated and I don't know what AFN is!
Gawd! some of you people are ridiculous. Arguing for the sake of arguing.
And Jacobson if your a Christian, than the religion should be disbanded. Nothing Christian about you.... 

And Jacobson if your a Christian, than the religion should be disbanded. Nothing Christian about you...

Since Christianity isn't a religion, your comment has no merit. Basing your thoughts on your false understanding of what a Christian is explains why it has no merit. 

You saying that Sowell's articles are not copyrighted and syndicated?

Give you another opportunity, Jake. 

Christianity isn't a religion?

Bizarro.