Winston Bush

In WWII America's closest ally was Britain. We were reluctant to join the war because we had enough of war, particularly world war at that point, and weren't interested in promoting the careers of "merchants of death". Eventually we realized that we could not maintain a neutral position and maintain our freedom too, so we began to build the best army in the world.

Even so, Americans felt a certain hopelessness that once again we were living in a world at war. Once again we were trading butter for guns. Once again we were engaging a culture of death. Once again we were host to insanity. At these times Winston Churchill would travel to America, or send word to America, to bolster our resolve.

One such moment was December 26, 1941 when Winston Churchill spoke to the US congress. Here is what he said:

For the best part of twenty years the youth of Britain and America have been taught that war was evil, which is true, and that it would never come again, which has been proved false. For the best part of twenty years, the youth of Germany, of Japan and Italy, have been taught that aggressive war is the noblest duty of the citizen and that it should be begun as soon as the necessary weapons and organization have been made. We have performed the duties and tasks of peace. They have plotted and planned for war. This naturally has placed us, in Britain, and now places you in the United States at a disadvantage which only time, courage and untiring exertion can correct.

Winston Churchill - December 26, 1941

George Bush visited Japan recently. Japan, you'll remember, engaged the war on terror with America. In this moment they are having reservations about the direction of the war in Iraq. What were president Bush's words to bolster their spirit to our cause?

"Obviously, the extent to which uh [pause]
the Japanese government wants to give reconstruction money to Iraq is up to the Japanese government, and [pause]
to- to the- and I- as to the- [pause]
the- the uh deployment of troops, it's up to- [pause] it's up to the government. [pause]
's what happens in democracies -- government makes decisions that uh [pause]
that uh that they're uh capable of living with, and that's [pause]
that's what we said, ((we)) said, do the best you can do; [pause]
make up your own mind, it's your decision, not mine. "

Source

Let us hope the Japanese find as much comfort in stupidity as American voters.