Posted on 05/29/2012 2:10:46 AM PDT by moonshot925
What do you think?
The Royal Navy and French Navy are similar in size.
Royal Navy (4 SSBNs, 7 SSNs, 4 assault ships, 7 guided missile destroyers, 13 frigates and 24 patrol vessels and 170 aircraft)
French Navy (4 SSBN, 6 SSNs, 1 CVN, 4 assault ships, 12 frigates, 16 patrol vessels and 208 aircraft)
The French Navy has a nuclear powered aircraft carrier.
Also take the Russian Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and People's Liberation Army Navy into consideration.
If we had genuine austerity, it would be possible. The wealth and the means of wealth creation is there, it is just accounted for by other things. An overdrawn millionaire still has access to more cash than a solvent working joe...
Lend-lease was a GIFT and I will explain why.
$31.4 Billion of euipment and materials were sent to the UK from the USA under Lend-lease from 11 March 1941 to 29 August 1945. After the war it was decided that the UK would pay some loans to the USA at a 2% interst rate. From 29 August 1945 to 29 December 2006 a toal of $7.5 was paid from the UK to USA inculding interest. The UK only paid for 23% of what it recivied. The rest was written off by USA.
“Lend-lease was a GIFT and I will explain why.”
Lend-lease wasn’t a gift and I will explain why. When lend-lease started Britain stood alone fighting the Nazis whilst America shrugged it’s shoulders and said ‘nothing to do with us that european war’. You gave us equipment to fight when you would not. British soldiers paid for that equipment in blood. When you did join the war, you sent us more equipment so we could fight and help you win the war. Just the same when we sent tanks and fighter aircraft to Russia, we didn’t get paid for them, but the Russian soldiers who died killing our enemies paid for the equipment in blood.
Much as we appreciated that equipment, it was sent to help the US, the fact that it also helped the UK was secondary, just as when we’ve done it for other countries.
The little clue that proves this to be fact is the full title of the act that was signed into law on March 11th 1941, “An Act to Further Promote the Defense of the United States”. Not to help our allies, but to defend the US. There’s nothing at all wrong with that, but please don’t try to spin it into anything else.
The cash was paid back in full with interest in 2006.
“British soldiers paid for that equipment in blood”
Yes but the US Army paid in blood as well. In November 1944 there were 2.6 million American troops on the western front and 0.95 million British/Canadian troops. That means 73% of the allied troops on western front in November 1944 were American.
“The cash was paid back in full with interest in 2006”
Like I said, only 23% of it was paid back from the UK. The rest was written off.
“Yes but the US Army paid in blood as well. In November 1944 there were 2.6 million American troops on the western front and 0.95 million British/Canadian troops. That means 73% of the allied troops on western front in November 1944 were American.”
I never suggested anything else, nonetheless lend-lease was created to defend America, not Britain. Between 1939 and December 1941 pretty much 100% of the troops were British and commonwealth. . . . . .
“Like I said, only 23% of it was paid back from the UK. The rest was written off.”
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6215847.stm
“I never suggested anything else, nonetheless lend-lease was created to defend America, not Britain. Between 1939 and December 1941 pretty much 100% of the troops were British and commonwealth. . . . . .”
You are right about that. After the fall of France the UK and Canada were alone and defended fought the Battle of Britian. However the United States was not really neutral before Pearl Parbor.
On March 11 1941 FDR created lease-lease to give materials and equipment to the UK and China.
On June 14 1941 FDR ceased all German and Italian assets in US banks.
On October 23 1941 USS Reuben James was sunk by U-552 killing 115 American sailors.
What don’t you understand? $31.4 Billion worth of equipment and materials was given to the UK in WW2. $7.5 Billion was paid back over 612 years. That is only 23%. Alsol, the Marshall Plan debt and WW1 debts were never paid back.
“What don’t you understand? $31.4 Billion worth of equipment and materials was given to the UK in WW2. $7.5 Billion was paid back over 612 years. That is only 23%. Alsol, the Marshall Plan debt and WW1 debts were never paid back.”
They were given so we could fight for America. Read the title of the act. You don’t give a man a shovel when he offers to clear the snow off your drive and expect him to buy the shovel as well do you? You sent the tools we did the dirty work.
The cash was a loan and that was paid back.
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