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From: orb@whuts.UUCP (SEVENER)
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: Axis military after WW II:re to Lewis
Message-ID: <518@whuts.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 28-Jan-86 17:47:47 EST
Article-I.D.: whuts.518
Posted: Tue Jan 28 17:47:47 1986
Date-Received: Thu, 6-Feb-86 10:33:01 EST
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Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
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Michael Lewis does not have a very good sense of history when
he says:
>      What do the exploits of a united Germany 40 years ago have to do with the
> capabilities of largely demilitarized (by WW 2 standards) West Germany?  West
> Germany is largely demilitarized for one reason: the Soviets wouldn't have it
> any other way.
> 
Michael, West Germany is relatively demilitarized for the same reason
as Japan - because the US was content to foster German economic development
via the Marshall Plan but wished to prevent a resurgence of German
militarism.  Japan was encouraged by General Douglas McArthur to put
her zealous military efforts into economic development.  Japan did
and now, partly due to not wasting her efforts on the weapons of war,
threatens American companies in many major industries.
So, of course, Reagan now is encouraging Japan to re-arm again in
reverse of McArthur and past American policy.  This may well be
successful in reducing Japan's economic development and growth rate
but I think the world will be worse off for it.
 
East Germany and the Warsaw Pact in general, as I have previously
pointed out, is not that militarized independently of the Soviets
for similar reasons - the Soviets don't trust either East Germany
or the Warsaw Pact nations.
     tim sevener  whuxn!orb