LETTER: US Presidents and history

I have often heard it said that the President of the United States is the leader of the free world. This prompts me to think that a very short history lesson is needed.
By The Newsroom
Published 29th Apr 2016, 12:00 BST

In recent history, there has been one occasion when a President of the USA and the American people could have justified such a title. That was in 1939 when Britain, in defence of its people and a free world, declared war on Nazi Germany and impoverished itself and its people for 50+ years.

America remained isolationist and only declared war on Germany when forced to do so following the attack on Pearl Habour by Japan in December 1941. (Please do not tell me about Lend/Lease; although generous and well meaning, the British taxpayer only stopped paying for Lend/lease in December 2006).

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Presumably, if our leaders in 1939 were of the same ilk as our leaders today, we would not have declared war but doffed our cap, bowed our heads and made a pact with Adolf Hitler.

Now we have the present American President telling us how little and insignificant Britain is and how Britain cannot possibly survive without the EU and America.

With friends like that, we certainly do not require any enemies.

Hugh Weir

Southdown Road

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Related topics:BritainJapan