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Entry: The Arsenal Of Time Link: http://www.takimag.com/sniperstower/article/the_arsenal_of_time#25918 Post contents: Russell, I see now that you're <i>not</i> arguing that it's fortuitous that we went to war with Hitler sooner rather than later," but instead that it's fortuitous that Hitler went to war in '39 before he could have developed more horrible weapons. Ok... One reason why Hitler jumped the gun is that he felt that he was in a position of military strength vis-a-vis the other western powers and the Soviets. If he'd given them another few years, they might have built up huge arsenals making WWII reap more blood, toil, sweat, and tears than it did. So, again, what is your point? There are an infinite amount possible outcomes, some better some worse. Counter-factual reasons can yield some real insights -- e.g. questions like, "Absent slavery, could there have been a war between the states. Yes, well then, slavery did not <i>cause</i> the Civil War." But this is not what you're doing. You're basically saying, "I'm glad that history turned out the way that it did or else we would not be standing where we are now," which is, alas, WHIG HISTORY (and at its most Whigy, I might add.) Sent at: 2008 08 08