REMEMBERING HISTORY – AT 9:48 A.M. ET:   World War II came to an end 70 years ago today, with the announcement of the surrender of Japan.  It became known as V-J Day, victory over Japan.

Thus ended the greatest conflict in history.  The United States was one of the major combatants in that war, and emerged as the most powerful nation in the world, the only country that could build and deliver an atomic bomb. 

And yet, within three years, General of the Army Omar Bradley complained that the U.S. Army couldn't fight its way out of a paper bag.  We had disarmed, we had stripped our military of most of its power just at the time when the Soviet Union was building its mighty force.  There were battles within the Pentagon that almost resulted in America abandoning its aircraft carriers.

When President Truman decided to intervene in June of 1950 to stop the Soviet-directed invasion of South Korea, we were pathetically unprepared.  The first ground units sent were parade divisions from the occupation force in Japan.  We didn't have enough ships.  Our frontline jet fighters were inferior to the Soviets' MIG-15, a condition that didn't change until we deployed the North American F-86 Sabrejet.  And the Soviets had already exploded their own atomic bomb.

Every period of American disarmament has ended disastrously.  We eventually prevailed in Korea, which is why there's a free South Korea today, but at substantial cost. 

We are disarming again (see the post just below), and there are worries that we are heading for another disaster.  As we commemorate V-J Day, let us recall the lessons of that era:  Weakness invites war, strength often prevents it.  An investment in a strong national defense is one of the best investments our nation can make.

August 14,  2015