Izno
I don't understand the reference to Italy to be honest because actually almost all of Europe with exception of Portugal and Spain has succumbed to socialism long ago but it was resisted in Italy until about 15 years ago and the present government which is the longest running in Italy since the war is a basicly center-right government. The economic status of Europe and the world has been compromised by rising oil costs and a few other problems.
Now Spain has joined the ranks of socialism also.
There have been a few monarchies I believe still in Europe which are not democratic.

TR

To Sam... Big is just expressing is opinion and beliefs, and so he's entitled to from his experience and knowledge, after all we all have access to some knowledge that isn't necessarily the same for everyone.

Mog's opinion and mine share most of what we defend, has you've been reading in the former posts.
And as was said, we all love freedom and democracy. My country become independent in 1143 in it's present form (as Portugal). Though most of not all Portuguese regard a previous federation that existed in my homeland's territory has it's initial Homeland (has in Germany, their Nationality oficially starts with the Teutoburgerwald battle of 9 A.D., if i'm not mistaken).

I do disagree regarding Japan attack in Pearl Harbour, please don't tell me that you STILL believe in that???

There have been documents released, that attest to the US having cracked the Japanese Codes at the time, plus that the US knew that Japan intended in declaring war in that particular time, and even they HAD the targets reduced onto 3 options (i think it was 3 options only), including Pearl Harbour. That's why the USS Carriers were at sea, as a safeguard, the US just didn't thought that the attack could be so damaging.
It was also released that the US int service at the time, got a translation of the declaration of War as soon as it become available, just took the time to translate it, and THAT the US Gov had taken steps to make the Japanese Embassador wait for them as a form of pressure.

And so was the Japanese Attack, that was to happen 30m after the delivery of the declaration of War, initiated 2 hours before the delivery of the same.
Rosevelt just rode the wave of indignation of the US population to get support for a War, that no one wanted before in the US, except himself though rightgeous has he might have been.

To Trex,

TRex, when the WW2 ended the stronguest popular suport to Socialism, was found in France and Italy, but while in France the "now" allied nations (I say "now", because several "neutral" nations joined it's ranks amongst them Portugal) against a new common foe (USSR), found a stern supporter in the Person of de Gaulle who was de "de facto" national hero for the French, and so managed to curb socialist intentions in France (not alone ofcourse).
In Italy, there wasn't such an influencial person, and so it is in fact stated in several documents, that Italy didn't only fall under a Socialist Regime (please do NOT compare present european socialist govs to the Socialism of then), due to the reasons that i've stated before.

About Monarchies that aren't democratic... of which are you talking about? I don't know of any.

users.erols.com/mwhite28/euro1970.htm

PS:
Regarding the attack on Pearl Harbor, whether we suspected an attack was imminent or not, there was a Japanese envoy in the United States at the very time that the attack was commenced;
So I'm inclined to believe that our "hands were tied" and that we didn't think they would attack in the middle of negotiations and that's only saying that maybe we did suspect their intentions.

TR

PPS:
Izno
According to the other link I provided, Italy was one of the last European countries to give in to socialism in any form and I assume modern socialism when they did;
So I reiterate a favorite expression of Italian Americans that goes, "they play the game and we get the name."

Here's a link about Pearl Harbor:
www.users.bigpond.com/battleforaustralia/historicalbackground/JapWarPreps2.html

As I understand it the Japanese were undecided about whether to attack South East Asia or Pearl Harbor to the very last moment so that we weren't sure where they would strike and with an envoy in the United States I suspect that we dropped our guard thinking we had time but admittedly that's my opinion.

TR