Final Blog...sniff, sniff!

I look at the Cold War caused by both military technology and political idealogy. When the US became the super power of the west after WWII, most everyone was waiting too see the next step, dealing with Russia. Each political power was differnt on all levels...economically, socially but were the same in world thinking that THIER way was right and should be spread. Military wise the Americans had the hydrogen bomb, but only time would give them that advantage. They each wanted control, and each knew the other was in the way. With Russias developement of the bomb giving them equal standing with the US, Europe was stuck in the middle. With the European countries being land-locked with Russia, experiences and ways of life during the Cold War were greatly influenced on how thier veiwpoint of this time was compared to US feelings and thinking.

Second to Last Blog

Khrushchev needed away to not only seperate himself from Stalin and his memeory, but to align himself with the person who is considered the greatest Russian since...well, since Lenin. Using this letter that Lenin had wrote about Stalin showing not only his disproval of him as a leader but as a Russian as well helped Krushchev make his own name to the Russian people as not only thier leader, but someone who allies themself with Lenin. By having Stalins body removed from the being placed next to Lenin not only solidified his role and power to the people, but weakend the allies of Stalin still hanging around. Lenin is considered a great man, aleader among leaders, and having his body displayed like it is to the people continued to show them how great he was still in the 50's.

Blog for Week Kyu

It's great to play armchair quarterback on the mondays following an NFL weekend, I do all the time; much like parents always telling me I should have done this or that in a game the night before (usually having to deal with how thier daughter should have played more). Werent the Brits always telling Generals Marshall and Eisenhower that an invasion in Europe in '42 and '43 was not only foolish, but showed how the Americans were new to a World War event...and they were right. But they (British High COmmand Generals)were wrong in wanting to back up Churchills plans in attacking the soft underbelly of the Germans through Italy. When things turn out the way you say they are going too after the fact, anyone can look like a prophet or someone who should have been listened to more. Churchill you can say was in the right place at the right time, and I think that is what the author is saying. This Grand Alliance in '41 came because the circumstances were different than in '38 when appeasement probably saved more lives than not. No one trusted the Russians, the Americans really had no reason to join in an effort to go to war in Europe, and France was confused; The Brits stood alone in '38, and Chamberlain knew it. You can write hitory books after the fact, like Churchill did, and make it sound like you knew what you were talking about before the fact; but like I've always said, history is written by the victors, and the author is pointing out the Churchill did exactly that.