There certainly is an Israel Lobby (AIPAC, etc.) The size and scope and influence and power and most of all, money being DWARFED by that of the Gulf Arabs and the tidal wave of money they throw around. I suspect Buchanon is bankrolled fully by them — he’s too much a crackpot to make money honestly.

Machiavelli, the other Renaissance historians, and indeed the Romans and before them, the Greeks felt history was important because it taught important lessons. While studying the exact cause of the Hood to blow up is probably not useful, the example of the British trading armament for speed in building a ship engaged in combat with powerful forces is useful. That was a bad choice when you only have a few ships. By contrast, the Sherman Tanks were called “Ronsons” by the Germans (after a popular, pre-war cigarette lighter’s slogan — one flick and they’re lit) and could not stand up to direct combat with Leopard or Tiger tanks. BUT … they were far more robust and faster and more fuel-friendly. Meaning a commander (like Patton) who understood the strengths and weaknesses of the two tanks could maximize his strengths, minimize his weakness, and maximize the weakness of the enemy, minimize HIS strengths. So Patton’s method of out-maneuvering the Tigers and Leopards, which did not move in rough terrain very well, often requiring gas, or tread maintenance, helped neutralize the German advantage. And of course, he had a LOT more tanks than his German enemies.

In the same way that Buchanon (pure idiot) got the obvious lesson wrong: Allied appeasement and most importantly NEGLECT of their military to appease their domestic constituents got conquered. Hitler would not have DARED to launch an attack on Poland if he feared LOSING to England and France combined. Being weak, as Putin said, gets one beaten. As Machiavelli reminded, it is unwise to neglect military affairs. Weak states INVITE attack by more powerful neighbors.