Lakewood The Thinking City

TWO  QUESTIONS ON FOREIGN  POLICY

Suppose that Nazi Germany had not invaded Western Europe, or that Germany had withdrawn from Western Europe and had made peace with France, Britain, etc.  In other words, suppose the United States had no quarrel with Nazi Germany.  (This is not at all inconceivable.  Remember that right up until Pearl Harbor, many U.S. citizens were strongly opposed to entering the war against Germany.)  And suppose that the U.S. knew, with absolute certainty, that the Holocaust was going on, involving the slaughter of millions of people.  Should the U.S. have gone to war with Germany in that situation?   (And would it have?)

“Nations have no friends, and no principles, but only interests.”  Do you think this is true?  Is it true of the United States?   Or how would U.S. behavior be different if it were true?

Discuss foreign policy issues and particular areas of U.S. foreign policy by participating in the “Great Decisions” series