Submitted by Bill Dienstag, Jan 15, 2008 06:17

History I believe will always condemn FDR for his lack of resolve in assisting European Jewry. It wasn't simply his refusal to send bombers to Auschwitz., he was complicit by refusing to go public with the information that genocide was being carried out by the Nazis against the Jews. The Nazis were hypersensitive about their image which is why they took years to begin the killings. They wanted to be sure that the world was truly indifferent and would not intervene. Roosevelt should have loudly told the country and the world what was going on, promising to bring to justice all involved. Had he got that message out to the Germans themselves (perhaps with leaflets and radio broadcasts) I believe all but the most fanatical Nazis would have distanced themselves from the killing. Ordinary Germans might have begun questioning the anti Jewish program. Remember, the Nazi propoganda machine worked feverishly to convince the German people that the Jews were being resettled in places where they would be safe and happy. I am convinced that Roosevelt could have saved most European Jews by spelling out specifically those German actions that the US considers war crimes and exactly what the punishment would be for all involved.

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