Hi Wayne - I believe you are right on Alsace-Lorraine - the latest volley -
when it went back to France - was lost in the 1870s - Franco-Prussian War.
Not WW1 as was my assertion.

 I went there years ago - it is by Strasbourg - very interesting place. You
see predominantly German architecture - and 2 distinctly different peoples -
lighter skin people of German ancestry and darker French - Mediterranean. Of
course I am making generalizations. I don't know how many times the region
has passed back & forth.

In the 1930s conventional wisdom (British Labor Party) was that Hitler only
wanted to unite the "German people" - of course there were people of German
ancestry even in Russia - the Sudetenland - (part of Czech) - Austria - and
who determines what is "self determination"? Some Mexicans like to believe
that "Alta California" is really theirs by history - of course, the Spanish
Conquistadors took what became Mexico from the Aztecs and Mayans - anyway as
you can probably tell - I do like history - in spite of the way it is taught
by most  teachers-

To the issue at hand - I suppose it comes down to one's perception of what
Saddam Hussein intends to do with all these nasty weapons he ostensibly
doesn't have. I would argue that he hasn't developed them only to never use
them eventually - but certainly realize there are those who disagree with
me.

Bill

 Wayne Wrote:
Alsace-Lorraine was French until the French lost the Franco-Prussian war.
It then became part of Prussia/Germany.  If the Rhinelanders wanted to be
part of Germany then they should have been allowed to do so and Hitler
allowed them to have their wish.  Hence his early popularity.  In
Alsace-Lorraine - are the people French or German or possibly a mix?  The UN
supports a "right of self-determination".  The concept is good and could
have been applied to the Rhineland (favoring Germany), Alsace-Lorraine
(favoring France?), Kurds (NOT wanting to be part of Iraq), East Timorese,
Tibetans, Northern Irish(stay in the UK), Southern Irish(Independence), etc,
etc and more etc. throughout the world.

The currently relevant point is of course, the Kurds.  I'd love to hear the
Bush admin clarify it's position on the Kurds and their future.

Wayne

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