There have been a lot of comparisons of Trump and Vance to Chamberlain and Daladier

[dsc]

but that is unfair, to Chamberlain and Daladier. The UK and France were unprepared for war with Germany during the appeasement era and appeasement was intended to buy time. Yes, they sold it to the public as an outright avoidance of war, but they knew that at some point Hitler would invade Poland and they would have to declare war when he did. The time was to 1) get France prepared to fight Germany to a draw for at least a year, 2) to get the UK prepared for war, and 3) to get the US to agree to get involved with the war. FDR hadn't been reelected yet at the beginning of the appeasement era and the US public had no desire to be involved in Europe's politics. Both France and the UK were struggling financially and had publics that had memories of WW1 that made them very unwilling to be involved in war. They also didn't have weapons or forces to fight Germany. With that hand they appeased Germany several times (violations of Versailles, Albania, Ethiopia, the Sudeten land, and finally the entirety of Czechoslovakia). Now, to some extent, these efforts were failures. France fell to Germany in a month and a half once war started. But the UK deployed radar which won them the Battle of Britain. And FDR instituted lend lease allowing the US to arm Europe from 1939 until 1941 when the US was attacked. In short, appeasement was a calculated move in order to prepare for war. It wasn't a delusional idea that Germany would suddenly choose peace. And it certainly wasn't siding with Germany and Italy against their neighbors.

In contrast, Trump and Vance, at best think Russia will be a good actor on the world stage, at worst they favor dictators over democracy and want Russia to retake eastern Europe. It also should be noted that unlike the UK and France, which could only stand up to Hitler with troops and immense investments of money, we are able to stand up to Russia here with no troops and a relative pittance. Even if we provided all the money (and we aren't even close to doing that) it would be less than half of one year of our defense budget. In contrast, the UK spent close to half of its GDP on the war and sold off many international assets to help pay for it. The money we spent on Ukraine was, in terms of destruction of Russia's military, about the best money spent in history. This betrayal is flat out treason. Trump is no Chamberlain.

[Ocelot II]

1. Chamberlain was criticized for being weak and naive.

I don't think he was ever accused of intentionally betraying either Britain or Poland or of being in cahoots with Hitler. Trump and his furniture-violating lackey, however, are another story.

[Mister Ed]

2. Excellent points. Chamberlain's aims were honorable. Trump's are evil. n/t

[brush]

3. Hummmh. Opinions may differ. Mine is that trump and Vance are just as delusional as Chambersain was.

Putin ia just as trustworthy as Hitler was...and that equals nothing.

[unblock]

4. Indeed. Donnie is more like Benedict Arnold.

Though even that is unfair to Arnold, who at least had previously been on our side. Donnie was never on our side.

[dutch777]

5. All chickens will come home to roost. Glad I learned Russian in the army!