Remembering Not to Appease

Today is December 7, the 65th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. More than 2400 Americans were killed in the attack in 1941, bringing the United States into World War Two. Perhaps as many as 62 million people died during the war, including about 1 out of every 7 Soviet citizens (over 25 million) and over 400,000 Americans. This year will be the last official reunion in Hawaii of the dwindling number of Pearl Harbor veterans.

Five years ago America suffered just the second major attack on home soil in 189 years, killing about 3000 civilians. Militant Islam is overtly anti-liberty, anti-democracy, anti-Semitic, anti-Christian, anti-capitalist, anti-progressive, and anti-tolerance. They want America and Israel and Western Civilization to be destroyed.

President Bush said today that "In [the Middle East], radicals and extremists are using terror to stop the spread of freedom. And they do so because they want to spread their ideologies — their ideologies of hate — and impose their rule on this vital part of the world. And should they succeed, history will look back on our time with unforgiving clarity and demand to know: What happened?"

Yet today we hear "bi-partisan" to negotiate with terror-supporting states like Syria and Iran who desire our destruction. Talks and sanctions are suggested, just like in 1941, when we were trying to negotiate with Japan right up until the time the sneak attack came.

Here are some relevant quotes from Winston Churchill nearly 70 years ago:

"There is no greater mistake than to suppose that platitudes, smooth words, and timid policies offer a path to safety."

"An appeaser is one who feeds the crocodile hoping it will eat him last."

"Victory will never be found by taking the line of least resistance."

"I cannot subscribe to the idea that it might be possible to dig ourselves in and make no preparations for anything else than passive defense. It is the theory of the turtle."

"[Neville Chamberlain] was given a choice between war and dishonor. He chose dishonor and he will have war anyway."