This is important.

[ambitious_wench]

We got around to the subject of war again and I said that, contrary to
his attitude, I did not think that the common people are very thankful for
leaders who bring them war and destruction.

"Why, of course, the people don't want war," he shrugged. "Why would
some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best that
he can get out of it is to come back to his farm in one piece.

Naturally, the common people don't want war . . .But, after all, it is the
leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple
matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy or a fascist
dictatorship or a Parliament or a Communist dictatorship."

"There is one difference," I pointed out. "In a democracy the people have
some say in the matter through their elected representatives, and in the
United States only Congress can declare wars."

"Oh, that is all well and good, but, voice or no voice, the people can
always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you
have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists
for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the
same way in any country."

April 1946 interview by Gustave Gilbert with Nazi Herman Goering at
Nuremberg.

Comments

[kideternal.livejournal.com]

yes. thank you for quoting that. i read a truncated version a while ago.

[whispersinink.livejournal.com]

I had to repost that.