What I really meant to imply was the many groups of totalitarian, dictatorial, and evil (I left out parentheses because there is such a thing as evil after all) groups that were spread around the world and willing to cooperate with the Nazi regime. Even after the fall of Nazi Germany, they were still there and something that almost certainly would have to be dealt with sooner or later, as these kinds aren’t going to just lay down arms and surrender to freedom loving peoples. Rather, they are going to try to build their own group into something by the use of force, intimidation, torture, and murder. They cared nothing for human rights.

Many countries had ties to Nazi Germany . . . because they were *winning the war* for a time.

Example:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_history_of_Egypt_during_World_War_II – Anwar Sadar – “Arrangements were made for a treaty with Nazi Germany including provisions for German recognition of an independent pro-Axis Egypt, drafted by Sadat, stating that “no British soldier would leave Cairo alive”.”

When they had lost, though, the smaller countries flocked to the winners.

-Walt

-We had a war to finish with Japan, still a powerfull enemy.

-Russia was going after territory in Europe, following expansionist ideals that we already knew they had before the war even started. What they got is what we call “satellites”.

-Nazism had spread around the globe, in small pockets of political and violent influence. Did you know that Saddam Husein’s uncle, the one who taught him all he knew, was associated with the Nazi party back in WWII ?
Take a look

Simply put, we could not risk a prolonged war with Japan. We had to finish things off, or face the possibility of other threats from those who would have wanted us weakened.

The more gung-ho among the commenters would do well to remember what Hitler and Napoleon (not to mention countless other minor historical aberrations who might have been major historical influences if they hadn’t tried it) learned before them.

Frankly, that’s nearly as good a suicide strategy as attacking the British Isles post 1066.

It is a good thing that British Joint Planing Staff was not comprised of Patton wannabes and thus was able to accept the reality. One need only reread Page 28 of that document.

Especially this piece:

“Our view is, therefore, that once hostilities began, it would be beyond our power to win a quick but limited success and we should be comitted to a protracted war against heavy odds. These odds, more over, would become fansiful if the Americans grew weary and indifferent and began to be drawn away by the magnet of the Pacific war”

Power (especially military power) is only useful when folks believe you’ll use it.