“Would we see Dubya only hours after this occurred saying, ‘we will stand shoulder to shoulder…’ and pledging as much military help as the UK needed in eradicating this ‘new enemy’? I think not.”
I think so. We would see the Shrub offering some help to Britain. We helped the UK in the Falklands War and I see no reason why we would not help Britain against perpetuators of such a monstrous attack. I grant you the USA has not done much to crack down on Americans helping the IRA and probably could do much more to push peace in Northern Ireland, but you have to consider that many Americans of Irish descent, myself included, do not like British occupation of Ireland, and American politicians have to deal with us.
“The United States is an intensely selfish nation.” Most, if not all, nations are intensely selfish. Even Japan and the altruistic, socialist democracies of Scandanavia give only a small fraction of their wealth to help the Third World.
“Whilst it was perfectly clear that a horrendous ‘attack on freedom and democracy’ was being carried out in Europe in 1939-1945, the US was still only motivated to help out after they were affected directly at Pearl Harbour.”
You really need to read a few history books.
1.) Many Americans, especially FDR, were aware that freedom and democracy had been under attack after 1933. However, they had to deal with an isolationist majority. Also, the Great Depression rocked this country far more than it did most European countries; it is understandable that many Americans, especially the unemployed, were more concerned about domestic affairs.
2.) Well before the Munich Settlement FDR proposed that the UK, France, the USSR, the USA, and other countries meet to reach an agreement for containing German aggression. His offer, which was politically somewhat risky because of said isolationism, was rejected by Neville Chamberlain because Chamberlain believed he knew how to deal with Hitler. After such a stupid rebuff you can hardly expect FDR’s administration to bend over backwards for the UK. Winston Churchill noted the stupidity of this move in his history of WW2.
3.) The USA could do little because this country had disarmed to the point where Portugal and Greece fielded larger armies. I believe if you read William Shirer’s “The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich,” you’ll find that Hitler and other German military leaders did not think the USA could be a military threat to the Reich before 1943-45. It took us time to build up our forces.
4.) Furthermore, we were helping the Allies a long time before Pearl Harbor. Have you never heard of Lend-Lease? American ships were exchanging shots with the Germans in the Atlantic all throughout the summer of 1941. In fact, American sailors on the USS Kearnsey and the USS Ruben James died before the sailors at Pearl Harbor. Under international law, Hitler’s regime would have been quite justified in declaring war on the USA early in 1941 because it was obvious that we were not a neutral.
5.) Had the UK and France been led by people with intelligence, foresight and guts in the '30’s, the world need never have gone to war.
“The First World War tells a similar story. It was only because Germany sank four American ships in 1917 that America was reluctantly persuaded to help the quest for eradicating injustice and oppression in Europe.”
This is another stupid statement. The Zimmerman note played as much a role as unrestricted submarine warfare in persuading the USA to enter the war. If you’ll read European histories of the war, you’ll find out that the USA did a great deal to help the Allies 'way before 1917 by supplying munitions and other supplies. In fact, I’ll think you’ll find that France and the UK would have lost before 1917 had it not been for American manufacturing capacity. I also think you might take a look at the origins of the war and ask yourself why the average American should give a shit.
“It is still true today - America could not care less about atrocities in other countries unless they are in some way involved.”
Ah, yes, that attitude explains why we have intervened in Haiti, Somalia, and the Balkans.
“If I may be so bold as to suggest that this is THE REASON that they have found themselves in this mess in the first place.”
No, we are in this mess because we made the mistake of stepping away from Afganistan after the Soviet invasion, because we have placed bases on the Arabian peninsula, and because of our pretty much unconditional support for Israel. I realize this last factor offends many in Europe, but I know of no European country with such large percentages of Jews and fundamentalist Christians as the USA.
“When the US shows some concern for other nations when they are in times of need, then we can work together.”
Obviousily, you’ve never heard of the Marshall Plan or the aid this country gave to Austria after both World Wars. Obviousily, you’ve never considered all the money this country has spent, rightly or wrongly, to protect western Europe from the Soviets.
“Right now, however, America is so wrapped up in its financial and military dominance that it couldn’t really care less.”
Yes, I suppose we are a little bit like the British Empire used to be.