In 1953, Dwight D. Eisenhower gave a speech. I do not know how to insert links into my diary essays. I hope I am not banned for failing to do a thing I do not know how to do.
Another Kossack used a short quote from this speech yesterday. I googled the speech, and found it, and printed it out. It is called the, "Chance for Peace Address." It is also known as the "Cross of Iron" speech.
Reading the speech gave me an idea for a diary essay.
Also, I do not know how to add [blockquote] tags. I tried it. It did not work.
I hope I am not banned for lack of computer skills.
The speech starts out by recalling what hapened in the spring of 1945. It says the Red Army and the Western Allies met in Europe. It says for one brief moment, hopes were high for peace by way of respect on both sides.
Then, the speech says, the Soviet government abandoned respect for the rest of the world.
"In the world of its design, security was to be found, not in mutual trust and mutual aid but in force: huge armies, subversion, rule of neighbor nations. The goal was power superiority at all costs. Security was to be sought by denying it to all others."
The effect of the Soviet military build-up was:
"It instilled in the free nations-and let none doubt this-the unshakable conviction that, as long as there persists a threat to freedom, they must, at any cost, remain armed, strong, and ready for the risk of war."
This is pretty clear cause and effect. So, think of any group of people, anywhere in the world, that feels threatened by the USA, now, in 2006. They are instilled with the unshakable conviction that they must, at any cost, remain armed, strong, and ready to fight.
We should find a way to gain friendly relations with all these groups. Find a way to make friends. Rather than repeat the mistake of the Soviets.