XDA

On March 7, 1936, the first German troops crossed the Hohenzollern Bridge in Cologne as Hitler was addressing the Reichstag, and began reoccupation of Rhineland, the area of Germany between the Rhine and the borders with France, Belgium, etc. (the former Palatinate). There were never more than a single Division of German troops, ill equipped for a fight and under orders to run away as soon as French troops showed up. Although there were as many as 10 French Divisions just across the border (nearly 100 in all of France), the French merely declared this violation of the Locarno Pact and Versailles Treaty unacceptable and did nothing. A few weeks later, on March 29, a nationwide referendum was held in which 99 percent of the registered voters in Germany went to the polls and gave a 98.8 percent "Ja" vote approving Hitler's reoccupation of the Rhineland and Hitler could do, after that, virtually anything he wanted.

Iran has violated the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty by pursuing a course which will inevitably result in Uranium (and Plutonium) of sufficient isotope purity so it could be used in a nuclear weapon. We have declared that unacceptable. What happens next will effect history more than we can imagine.

Had French troops entered the Palatinate to expel the German troops, there would probably have been some casualties, harsh letters back and forth between Paris and Berlin and those who signed the Oxford Student Union peace resolution would have been critical of France's government. But Hitler would have been almost surely finished politically and WWII would have occurred, if at all, in a much different and less virulently evil form, at a much later time.

So, are we going to act like Americans of the 20th Century or like the French, who cannot stand up to tiny mobs of rock throwing youths? The answer will clearly depend upon our leadership.

UPDATE: It appears this comparison is self evident. Even Bill Kristol saw it.