Being in Moscow during the Yeltsin years I would encounter Russian officials complaining that the US wasn’t treating Russia like an Ally. I usually suggested they compare notes with the UK about that.
I had family members in Europe fight Fascism during WW2. As an American, I am disgusted with Trump’s leanings toward Putin and the Oligarchs. While my father contributed to the war efforts of the US so many years ago, I firmly believe there are many US citizens who feel as I do: we will not allow Nazis another foothold. Trump’s election wasn’t mandate but a small plurality. Moreover, I apologize for Americans who don’t fully understand the sacrifices performed by my father’s generation to defeat tyranny. We must stand together.
"Much of the material assistance we got from the US during WW2 (when we stood alone and defended you from the Nazis) was in the form of loans. We paid them all back. It took us until just a few years ago and was a serious drag on our economy, but you did get your pound of flesh." I had NO idea that this was the case! I've heard absolutely nothing about it.
It is even more complex. After Munich in 1938 Chamberlain’s Govt rushed to invest in new munitions factories (and in existing ones) to provide the munitions we could not produce at home. They generally did not come on line till after Pearl Harbour and all they produced (at our expence) went into the US arsenal. Our last payments were made in 2006 apparently which sounds about right. https://www.politics.co.uk/news/2006/12/29/britain-finally-pays-off-wwii-debt/
Being in Moscow during the Yeltsin years I would encounter Russian officials complaining that the US wasn’t treating Russia like an Ally. I usually suggested they compare notes with the UK about that.
I had family members in Europe fight Fascism during WW2. As an American, I am disgusted with Trump’s leanings toward Putin and the Oligarchs. While my father contributed to the war efforts of the US so many years ago, I firmly believe there are many US citizens who feel as I do: we will not allow Nazis another foothold. Trump’s election wasn’t mandate but a small plurality. Moreover, I apologize for Americans who don’t fully understand the sacrifices performed by my father’s generation to defeat tyranny. We must stand together.
"Much of the material assistance we got from the US during WW2 (when we stood alone and defended you from the Nazis) was in the form of loans. We paid them all back. It took us until just a few years ago and was a serious drag on our economy, but you did get your pound of flesh." I had NO idea that this was the case! I've heard absolutely nothing about it.
It is even more complex. After Munich in 1938 Chamberlain’s Govt rushed to invest in new munitions factories (and in existing ones) to provide the munitions we could not produce at home. They generally did not come on line till after Pearl Harbour and all they produced (at our expence) went into the US arsenal. Our last payments were made in 2006 apparently which sounds about right. https://www.politics.co.uk/news/2006/12/29/britain-finally-pays-off-wwii-debt/
The UK paid the US, and then GAVE them the US -- but still had to pay?!
In essence, yes.