Paul Burke - I am only TOO well aware that there were an enormous number of VERY good reasons to fight against the Nazis, the Italian fascists, and the Japanese expansionist militarists in WWII!

And I unhestitatingly support the more democratic ideals of many of those who fought against them...as I also support the self-defensive efforts of Russians who rightly fought to free their invaded country. The Russians were unfortunate to be living under a horrible tyrant, but their fight against the Germans was entirely justified.

Nevertheless, I was making some philosophical points in my initial post:

1. that good people, well intentioned people, people of splendid character end up serving all sides in any war...but only the ones on the winning side get to be called "heroes" when the war ends.

2. that rebellious or unconventional types sometimes resist the general trend in their own nation and even act directly against it, and end up working for "the other side" as spies, agents, saboteurs, etc...and sometimes they do it because they are wholly convinced that the other side is morally superior to those running the homefront...BUT, once again...only the ones on the winning side get to be called "heroes" after the war. The ones that lose get executed.

3. that bad people, sadistic creeps, and psychopathic murderers end up enthusiastically serving for ALL sides in any war...but once again, only the ones on the winning side get to be called "heroes" after the war, get medals pinned on their chests, and get to judge and condemn some other people who are quite possibly no worse than them...or maybe much better than them...but had the bad fortune to be on the losing side.

4. And that's the sad truth about war!

What I said in my original post was intended as a philosophical statement about human nature throughout all history. It was NOT an attempt to make any excuses for WWII Naziism and Fascism.

Clear?