December 7, 1941, the day America was drawn into war. Today is the 75th anniversary of the attacks that changed the course of world and American history. American emerged from WWII as one of the world's superpowers, and has remained atop the global hierarchy since then. But in a new global climate, will that change soon?
As always, happy Wednesday and happy reading.
This Day in History
1941 - Japanese forces launch a surprise attack on the American Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor, causing immense damage to the fleet and planes, and killing over 2400 Americans. The next day, President Roosevelt addressed Congress, declaring December 7th as a day that would live in infamy, and asking for a declaration of war against Japan, which was approved by Congress. Three days later Germany and Italy declared war on the United States, and thus began our three and a half year involvement in WWII.
The Cost of War
Personally I cannot speak to the toll that war takes on a person. I have never been to war. But without understanding it, I know that it is real. In war, people see things that cannot be unseen. They experience things that cannot be unlived. War shows us the worst of who we are, and exacts a heavy price (from Esquire). It is easy for those of us, like me, who have never seen war to glorify it, to accept it as something that does not affect us, perhaps even on some level, to yearn for it. But on the anniversary of our entry into a war in which over 50 million people were killed, we ought well remember the human cost of war, and all those, the living and the dead, who paid that price on our behalf.
The Navy Today
Seventy-five years after Pearl Harbor, and the US Navy rules the waves. We are able to project force and protect trade routes, the foundation of the Pax Americana. Today America's navy is smaller than it has been in some time, and with the world looking inward, perhaps it will become smaller still. Does this portend the decline of the American era (from the Strategy Bridge)? As the navy goes, so goes American hegemony, or is the fluctuating size of the navy merely a product of circumstance and a world that has been stable for two decades?
America and Russia v. 2.0
During WWII America and the Soviet Union became unlikely allies in the shared war against fascism. Might we headed down a similar road today in Syria fighting ISIL (from the Strategy Bridge)? When does Putin become our Stalin?
Personally, I don't believe these two scenarios are as comparable as the author. During WWII Hitler was the aggressor, and the USSR faced an existential threat. Neither the US nor Russia faces an existential threat in Syria today, and while the two countries share the goal of eliminating ISIL, Russia's priority is ensuring its ally Assad stays in power.
I doubt the US will find ourselves cooperating with Russia in Syria anytime soon, but the global political order may be shifting, so perhaps I am wrong.
Oh Ollie
Meet Ollie, a cajun canine all the way from Bossier, Louisiana, where he lives with his humans Rob and Angie. Ollie is like any good Southerner; he enjoys the outdoors, both for activity and for lounging On a nice day, Ollie can be found playing fetch outside long enough to tire himself out, and then taking a nice lazy nap in the sun. Big thanks to Rob and Angie for sharing Ollie!
Will's Weekly Trivia
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IF you choose to answer the question, respond to staton.will@gmail.com with your answer. Please note that by competing you are giving me permission to publish your first name in the trivia leader board each week.
Last Week:
1. In the 1970s the US and USSR signed nuclear accords known as SALT. What does the acronym SALT stand for? ONE POINT
2. How many SALT accords were signed? ONE POINT
3. Who did Winston Churchill replace as Prime Minister of Great Britain at the beginning of WWII? ONE POINT
Answers:
1. SALT stands for Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty.
2. There were two SALT accords.
3. Neville Chamberlain preceded Churchill as Prime Minister of Britain.
This Week:
1. Which Japanese Admiral planned the attack on Pearl Harbor? TWO POINTS
2. Which year did Russia invade Georgia? ONE POINT LEADER BOARD Check out the new Leader Board!
