Remembrance Day June 6th, 1944, celebrated on Normandy Beaches on French Northern Coast attended US President Biden and Heads of State of US Allies was a poignant reminder of the thousands. of US lives lost along with those of its Allies to roll back the German Invasion of Europe which commenced in September 1939.
United States commitment to Free & Open Europe and Global Stability manifested itself twice in the 20th Century in the First World War (1914-18) and the Second World War (1939-45).
In both cases United States was a late entrant when Free & Open Europe was seriously threatened by invasion of German Forces.
Similarly, in the Indo Pacific, US Forces fought Japanese Forces from Burma to Japan during Second World War. Soon after, US Forces were to fight and roll-back Chinese Communist armies which overran South Korea.
To those who have never visited the miles of War Cemetries of US Forces along with those of Britain and War Cemetries in Myanmar, Japan and South Korea, can never fathom the heavy cost of US lives sacrificed to ensure that Free & Open Societies flourished secure and stable.
Having visited all these War Cemetries during Battlefield Tour of Normandy Battlefields while attending the British Arm Staff College in 1970 and others as a military diplomat in Japan & South Korea, made me reflect that no other Nation in the world has paid such a heavy price in precious US lives lost in cause of global stability.
Fast forward to 2024, once again both in Europe and Indo Pacific, war-drums are beating noisily by Revisionist Totalitarian Powers.
In Europe, Ukraine stands devastated by the Russian Invasion for the last two years.
In Indo Pacific, Russia's Communist Ally China has made military predatory moves in a wide arc extending from India to Taiwan, Philippines and South China Sea.
In 2024, in a repeat of the war escalatory scenarios reminiscent of World War II, Global Democracies are belatedly engaged in debating as to how to meet the aggressions in Europe and in Indo Pacific.
Reflecting on all of the above, some major lessons of Second World War that are valid in the world of 2024 when the world is facing unbridled military recklessness in Europe and Indo Pacific, are briefly covered in the succeeding paragraphs.
Chamberlainisque Approaches by Political Leaders of Democratic Countries ragainst Totalitarian Aggression Leads to Emboldenment of Aggressors
In the years preceding Second World War, the world's democratic societies watched helplessly as their political leaders hedged and dithered in facing Hitler's apparent signs to overrun Europe.
Democratic societies were paralyzed into inaction by British Prime Minister's infamous assertion "Peace at any cost in our times'.
What followed was six years of horrendous war with unprecedented devastation from Europe to Southeast Asia and Japan.
Fast forward to 2024, the world is again witnessing Russian Invasion of Ukraine and with threats to invade Poland and the Baltic Republics. Alarmingly, Russian President has threatened use of nuclear weapons
Indo Pacific in 2024 faces the prospects of China's propensity to use military force to change boundaries on its land and maritime boundaries stretching from India to Japan. China is engaged in possible invasion of Taiwan and possibly the Philippines.
The United States after years of 'China Hedging Strategies' and 'Risk Aversion' strategies has in 2024 belatedly realized that Chamberlainisque approaches to manage the China Threat has only "emboldened China" to believe that US Power is on decline.
In the process, the United States has last more than a decade of substantial war-preparedness against the China Threat.
Totalitarian Aggression Can Only be Met Squarely by Solid Alliances of DemocraticNations
The Second World War could not have been won by Britain or France alone. For that matter of fact, even the United States could not have alone won the War.
The War against Germany aided by Italy and Japan could be won only by a solid and integrated Alliance of Democratic Nations led by United States.
In 2024, the above lesson holds even more truer to confront the Russia-China Axis. Democratic Nations have to coalesce into effective military alliance led by United States political, economic and military might.
National Unity & National Cohesiveness an Imperative to Beat Back Totalitarian Aggression
The most significant malaise in Demotic Nations is that in pursuit of liberal ethos, democratic societies stumble overboard in letting anti-national elements sprouting in their societies, These, become vocal in peddling false narratives both due to domestic political compulsions and also under external influences,
What stands out in the history of Second World War was that amongst the US-led Allied Nations, all democracies, the highest of National Cohesiveness and National Unity stood shining bright.
Reflections Pertinent in 2024
As 'war clouds' hover over Europe and more prominently in the Indo Pacific, United States and its democratic Allies and its 'Democratic Strategic Partners' need urgently to clear their 'lens' on the mounting China Threat.
The China Threat since 2012 with the ascent of President Xi Jinping, and his garbing all the levers of state control, with ruthless extermination of even his Foreign Minister and Defence Minister has acquired 'Hitlerian Contours'.
When the above is coupled with China's historical propensity to use force to settle disputes and defy international conventions, the Global World Order and its Democratic Nations cannot become mute spectators.
The inevitability of World War III can only be averted once again by an alliance of global democracies led by United States with its global military presence standing up to the war scenarios inflicted by Russia in Europe and China in the Indo Pacific.
The United States has to rise to the challenges of both beating back once again 'Hitlerianism' shattering global stability and also the "divisiveness" being inflicted by them within America.
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