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Entry: Hitchens's Trotskyite Morality Link: http://www.takimag.com/blogs/article/hitchenss_trotskyite_morality#30702 Post contents: Actually, my understanding and research indicate that the British mass and indiscriminate bombing actually did very little towards ending the war. German industry became very difused and was decentralized throughout the country. In fact, full "war capacity" as reached only in late 1944. It was the taking of land---the physical occupation by Allied troops---that effectively defeated Germany. Allied bombing, in particular, British mass bombing, did little but strengthen German resolve and force Germany to find more efficient means of producing war materiel, which they did. Not as bad a decision as the demand for "unconditional surrender," but still a major--and gravely immoral--error. Another interesting point about Nuremberg: Grossadmiral Doenitz was charged with "unrestricted" submarine warfare; but Admiral Nimitz (I believe it was) inttervened to remind that tribunal that the Americans had done exactly the same thing in the Pacific Theatre. Pat is also exactly right about the Norway invasion. A British expedition was on its way when the German paratroopers reached the Oslo airfield first, but Raeder was the one indicted for waging "aggressive war." Senator Robert Taft's remarks about the travesty of Nuremberg still ring true, especially in regards to the erecting of radical new standards and made-up ex post facto international law. At Nuremberg we helped unleash a mad genie that continues to afflict us today. Although it may seems a slight matter to debate these points, it is such items that help form and give sustenance to the Neo-con mythology that has come to bedevil us. Pat has rightly and with intelligence raised these issues, and we all should be thankful. Sent at: 2008 12 01