Posted on 01/28/2014 9:22:42 AM PST by sukhoi-30mki
I’m going to have to give myself 100 demerits concerning Denmark/Norway. You are absolutely right about it occurring before the attack on France. Not sure where my brain was on that.
No problem. Interesting but little-known fact is that the English/French were planning to thoroughly violate Norwegian neutrality, though not perhaps by full-scale invasion, when (as usual in the early years of the war) the Germans beat them to the punch.
This, of course, gave some degree of credibility to the German claim that they had invaded Norway to protect them from the Allies. Though not much.
As far as the notion of Bandladesh needing to protect itself from Pakistan, I’m afraid I just can’t see it. Any war in which Pakistan struck that far into/across India would be such a catastrophe for all involved that I can’t see anybody being focused on attacking Bangladesh.
Not to mention that Bangladesh is not exactly a cornucopia of wealth. Why would anyone want to invade it?
Obviously China could get into this mess, but it should be noted that the terrain between China and India is the most difficult terrain on the planet to launch a major offensive across. And that Pakistan, India and China all have nukes. In such circumstances I just can’t see a major conventional military attack.
Its not that I think a Paki attack is likely, under the current conditions. My point is that the purpose of Banglidesh playing a role is to ensure the current conditions continues (a friendly India).
That was my initial point with Denmark and NATO. Was Denmark’s contribution ever going to be a factor if a war started? No, I don’t think so. But had Denmark and other smaller countries taken the stance that they simply weren’t going to contribute anything, then the political situation may not have supported a large American presence in Europe, thus ensuring Denmark’s defeat in a war.
So, this continues to give Banglidesh skin in the game, and there is always Burma, which shares a border.
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