The Churchill you didn't know

[GNEP]

I found interesting his comments on Jews - sadly as far as I know this is far more indicative of the prevailing attitutes in the upper classes of the UK at the time than of the man himself. Note that these were made in the 20s.

I don't want to defend the man in any way, but wouldn't you expect a strong leader to express strong opinions that sometimes 80 years later might seem a bit unfashionable. Good wartime leader - yes. Philosopher on the values of the early 3rd millennium? Hmmmm. Are we expecting too much here?

[Admiral]

So far as Britain and Russia were concerned, how would it do for you to have 90% of Romania, for us to have 90% of the say in Greece, and go 50/50 about Yugoslavia?
Addressing Stalin in Moscow, October 1944

Now you know why I don't particularly trust the West. The Balcans were always something to trade between the Western and Eastern powers.
I'd rather deal with the Russians and their wast raw resources than the pretend of righteousness and vaporware speeches of the EU or US, at least in what my country is regarded .

You are callous people who want to wreck Europe - you do not care about the future of Europe, you have only your own miserable interests in mind.
Addressing the London Polish government at a British Embassy meeting, October 1944

no comment

[KvHagedorn]

Originally posted by Admiral
Now you know why I don't particularly trust the West. The Balcans were always something to trade between the Western and Eastern powers.
I'd rather deal with the Russians and their wast raw resources than the pretend of righteousness and vaporware speeches of the EU or US, at least in what my country is regarded .

Oh well, I suppose it beats being part of the Ottoman Empire.

That's just how things were done then. It wasn't right, but it kept peace among the powers. Like France and Britain getting together and saying "Well, you give us a free hand in Morroco and we won't make a fuss about Egypt." And Russia is really no different than Britain or France or the US in that regard. They, and you, are really part of the West too.

[Admiral]

Originally posted by KvHagedorn
Oh well, I suppose it beats being part of the Ottoman Empire.

Sadly the mentality of those times is still pretty much present. Like those Greek merchants (fanariots? don't know how they're called in English) from Istambul bought their right to rule here and then overtaxed the population to make a profit, so do today's politicians buy their place on the party lists to accede to a function in parliament and then steal from state property and public funds as much as they can.

Such people would deserve a Chinese approach, but hey, we want to be part of the EU one day, so it can't be done.

[Wombat]

That's just how things were done then. It wasn't right, but it kept peace among the powers. Like France and Britain getting together and saying "Well, you give us a free hand in Morroco and we won't make a fuss about Egypt." And Russia is really no different than Britain or France or the US in that regard. They, and you, are really part of the West too.

And look how that strategy has totally f*cked up Africa.