Fletcher Christian said:
“And it was also a screwup; leaving an incompetent Left-wing nationalist (and one who also believed in the Arab superstate) in charge of one of the world’s major international resources.”
I presume you’re talking about Gamal Nasser. I would agree that Nasser’s legacy for Egypt (and the world) was not a good one. Nasser certainly believed in the Arab superstate. He tried to create one with Iraq, Syria and Libya but failed. Nasser was also a socialist and tried (but failed) to establish Egypt as a Soviet client. However Nasser was also wildly popular with the Egyptian people. He was a classic demagogue. I would argue that the machinations of Israel with the European powers during the Suez Crisis greatly enhanced Nasser’s demagogic appeal and set the stage for the 1967 war with Israel.
Fletcher Christian also said:
“Arab terrorism in all the years since, including the series of attacks on Israel, was the result of it.”
No, Islamic fascism was a reaction to Nasser and Arab secularism. Islamic fascism emerged as Nasser’s secular/socialist style of politics declined.
Fletcher Christian said:
“Britain had its back to the wall – and acted as it had to, and the USA took over the leadership of the world; which was the whole point of the exercise. And just to make the result more certain, the USA took two years to join in the fight against two of the worst dictatorships in Earth’s history.”
The United States was really the only guy in the Free World left standing after World War II. Europe was a wreck and Britan’s economy was badly damaged. America’s natural inclination was towards isolationism. To a large extent the US had greatness thrust upon it.
Fletcher Christian said:
“It ought not to be forgotten, either, that a long time ago, when the UK was doing its usual thing – fighting against the forces of totalitarianism (in the form of Napoleon this time) the USA was on the other side. Or that the “land of the brave and the home of the free” took fifty years after its formation for a large part of its population to share that freedom, even in theory.”
England was and continues to be a great nation. However England’s behavior prior to World War II was mainly motivated by maintaining England’s political and economic advantage as an imperial power. Slavery in the United States (and England) was a national disgrace. It’s to England’s credit that they outlawed slavery without recourse to a civil war. We in the United States almost destroyed ourselves by the process of outlawing slavery. Fortunately justice prevailed. Unfortunately we had to wash away our earlier disgrace with considerable human blood.
“Legions – check. Using them for conquest – check. Praetorian Guard – check. Demands for tribute – check. Bread, circuses and bloodthirsty entertainment – check. Torture of the opposition – check. Dynastic rule – check (or at least starting).”
Do I hear a moonbat shrieking?
“Rome was a free republic once. Look what happened to them.”
The Roman Republic went through its life cycle just as the British Empire did. We need to be mindful of ours.
