Storm Track Appeasement: The Evolution of the Appeaser

From The Gathering Storm

This was submitted to me by a reader of my blog. A well informed doctor. See any parallel between the appeasers of World War II and today.

Norman Podhoretz has in a wise and clear article pointed out how a renowned French historian has described the strategy which led irresistibly to the WW II:

• Stage 1 (negation): Germany is not at all rearming.
• Stage 2 (bagatellisation): Okay, but not very much.
• Stage 3 (relativating): Okay, but in relation to GB, France and Soviets, it is a tiny army.
• Stage 4 (psychologization): Okay, but try to understand how they must feel surrounded, yes, under siege by many other nations!
• Stage 5 (disengagement): Okay, but now it is too dangerous to confront them.
• Stage 6 (appeasement): For hell, don't provoke them! That will only worsen the situation.
• stage 7 (resignation): We can't do anything about it.

How about these parallels.

• Stage 1 (negation): The terrorists are not real Muslims.
• Stage 2 (bagatellisation): Okay. They say they are Muslims.
• Stage 3 (relativating): Okay but it’s just a tiny minority of Muslims.
• Stage 4 (psychologization): Okay, try to understand their anger.
• Stage 5 (disengagement): Okay, let’s not make the 1.2 billion Muslims angry – make concessions.
• Stage 6 (appeasement): Hell! Don’t provoked Iran and North Korea. That will only worsen the situation.
• Stage 7 (resignation): Let’s leave Iraq and preach ‘no more war’. Maybe they’ll leave us alone.

What stage do you think we’re at?