Book Pick: The Arsenal of Democracy, by A.J. Baime

Subtitled 'FDR, Detroit, and An Epic Quest to Arm an America at War', this book reveals the astonishing story of the Ford Motor Company's 1,500 acre Willow Run plant which churned out 8,685 massive four engine B-24 Liberator bombers between 1941 and 1945. Willow Run was the largest and most complex symbol of how American manufacturing, led by the automotive industry, turned Detroit into the 'Arsenal of Democracy', producing 30% of all US military equipment during WWII. But 'Arsenal' is also a saga of the Ford family and the battle for the soul of Ford Motor Company which nearly collapsed under aging and debilitated founder Henry Ford, a virulent anti-Semite, idolater of Adolf Hitler who presented him with the Grand Cross of the German Eagle Medal, and ardent foe of FDR. It was Henry's brilliant son Edsel and chief of production Charlie Sorensen, who, early in 1941, devised on a sheet paper the concept of a nearly mile long plant to build the giant B-24's on an automobile style assembly line at the scoffed at target of one per hour. The B-24's were being ground out virtually hand made like Rolls Royce cars by their developer Consolidate Aircraft. FDR called for an "Arsenal of Democracy" to crank out 60,000 planes to win the war. Willow Run was Edsel and Sorensen's answer. The obstacles to building Willow Run, 27 miles from downtown Detroit, the adjoining airfield, and Bomber City, the 400 acre facility to house many of the 80,000 workers who toiled on the B-24 assembly line, were herculean. While all this was going on, Edsel literally worked himself to death in 1943 fending off both the opposition of his now delusional father and the machinations of Henry's security chief Harry Bennet who commanded a thousand strong security force which terrorized auto workers and executive alike, including Edsel and Sorensen. As a War bird fanatic who has flown on one of the two remaining flying of the 18,462 B-24's produced (47% by Ford), I have an even deeper appreciation of this magnificent airplane and the visionary folks who made its mass production possible.

Did Ford hit the promised one B-24 per hour? Who backed down when Bennett and John Bogus (the Ford family's opposition security chief) drew guns on each other the day Bogus came to fire Bennett? Read for yourself. 'Arsenal of Democracy' is more exciting than any fiction that can be imagined. 

A valid parallel

Not sure what is worse...Israel's crimes against humanity in Gaza, or US funding and supporting it out of cowardice to the power of the Likud wing of the Israel Lobby. Watching the slow extermination of the Gazans reminds me of the doomed in the Warsaw Ghetto.

Pro lifers forcing distressed women to 'Do It Yourself'

Poor women seeking an abortion in conservative states are caught in a TRAP - Targeted Regulation of Abortion Providers. Texas, Louisiana, and Alabama, among others, have enacted laws that either close abortion clinics or make the procedure so expensive and time consuming that women without means are reverting to the Bad Ol' Days of do it yourself. They are increasingly going back to the back alley for an unlicensed, unregulated provider or seeking misoprostol, an abortion inducing drug up to 88% effective if taken in the right dosage. Unfortunately, the TRAP police have dried up the supply of this drug, highly popular in Latin American countries where abortion is illegal in all circumstances. They've even forbidden the few abortion and reproductive clinics surviving in a hostile political and religious climate from giving instructions on identifying counterfeit misoprostol pills and proper usage of the good ones. While their strategy has partially achieved their goal of preventing all abortions, they've mainly induced untold needless misery for the poor, including death and mangled physical and mental health. Do it yourself should be reserved for building that new backyard deck, not matters of life and death.

Allies don't let allies commit crimes agaisnt humanity

As we watch in horror Israel's latest "mow the grass" bombing and invasion of the world's largest open air prison in Gaza, we should note that much of Israel's weaponry is courtesy of Uncle Sam's $3.1 billion in annual aid, most of it for military resources. America pretends to be a neutral broker working for Palestinian and Israeli peace, and creation of a Palestinian state. But a true neutral doesn't fund the weapons of terror that Israel rains down on the hapless Gazans and stand aside as Israel keeps gobbling up Palestinian land and resources with new settlements, keeps the 1.8 million Palestinians near starvation from a cruel and debilitating blockade, and keeps the peace process sabotaged so Israel can continue their endless march to the sea. It should be as offensive to us peace lovers to prevent our tax dollars from funding such inhumane conduct as it is to fund America's criminal Middle East wars. Sadly, the US Congress and the presidency are themselves imprisoned by the Likud wing of the Israel Lobby which alternately provides campaign funding for them or their opponents, depending on who will be more loyal to Israel's endless expansion on the backs and well being of their Palestinian hostages. Cutting off aid to Israel till they end the carnage and truly work for peace and a Palestinian state should be simple. Allies don't let allies commit crimes against humanity.

 

 

COD's Breuder, Birt shoot the messengers...figuratively

College of DuPage President Robert Breuder and COD Board Chair Erin Burt fired back at 14 critics at the COD Board meeting July 17 over charges of improper lobbying for a $20 million dollar grant from the state, and general financial mismanagement, including a gourmet public restaurant that lost $546,000 in 2012. Unfortunately, neither Breud...er nor Birt used facts, logic or in Breuder's case, good English, in their puzzling defense. After the 14 critics spoke out against Breuder and the Board, Chairwoman Erin Burt launched an attack on Board member Kathy Hamilton, the sole June 26 vote against the proposed $50 million building, which blamed the entire Grantgate and financial mismanagement matter on Hamilton's publically speaking about it. That's simply stifling a whistleblower who invoked her First Amendment rights to bring these shenanigans to the light of day. Burt, was shocked, shocked that Hamilton voted against the new $50 million classroom building after she agreed to the agenda containing the building request and allegedly didn't voice opposition till the vote. Horrors! Someone should explain to Chair Birt that finalizing approval or disapproval of a project is the purpose of the vote. Otherwise why take one?

But Dr. Breuder topped Birt in the ludicrousness of his defense. He claimed the 14 speakers were a "coordinated and orchestrated" attempt to discredit him but offered no evidence to support that charge. He implied that COD is "the finest community college of its kind in the country" simply because some unnamed folks say it is. The only one I know who says that is Dr. Robert Breuder. Then the corker. Breuder claimed that "It's a tragedy to sit here and be bludgeoned, literally bludgeoned, ... by people to find fault with every dimension of this institution and every dimension of this leadership." Gee, if Dr. Breuder was literally bludgeoned, he'd be walking around in bandages and the 14 speakers would be trying to make bail. 

 Maybe it's time for both Birt and Breuder to walk the plank....figuratively, of course.