Western leaders and the press, now, do not see Ukraine and Putin the way their predecessors in 1958 saw Khrushchev and West Berlin at all.
Moreover, their predecessors had had a totally Whig perspective in 1958 on what they were seeing even then, very late in the responsible statecraft game indeed.
Sunday, November 12, 2017
REPRISE EISENHOWER PATTON VERDICT OF HISTORY
(Eisenhower:) "From a tactical point of view," he said, "it is highly inadvisable for the American Army to take Berlin and I hope political influence won't cause me to take the city. It has no tactical or strategic value and would place upon the American forces the burden of caring for thousands and thousands of Germans, displaced persons Allied prisoners of war." Patton was dismayed. "Ike, I don't see how you figure that out," he said. "We had better take Berlin, and quick-- and on to the Oder!" '
'...(Patton) again urged Eisenhower to take Berlin. It could be done, argued Patton, in forty-eight hours. "Well, who would want it?" Eisenhower asked. Patton paused, then put both hands on Eisenhower's shoulders and said "I think history will answer that question for you." ' Toland, The Last 100 Days, p 371.
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