A bad thing to be sure, but why would it be our immediate problem?

Because it hurt our trade partners and would weaken our position in the world.

Strategically, sitting out turned out to be brilliant approach as it lead to the American hegemony of the last 70 years.

Well, good for us. Sucky if you live in South or Central America or the Middle East. Africa was already fucked and the Brits got to Asia first.

But Germany running over Poland and France and blitzing London should've looked like a supremely bad thing, I think.

Plus the genocide thing.

red velvet boots

I want those. Don't know when I'd wear them, but I want them.

Are allies being attacked justification for entering a war?

To a certain degree, yes, I think. It depends on the circumstances, but the fact that they're allies implies a certain common interest, and having one another's back when needed. I don't necessarily think it's wrong that we waited until we were attacked ourselves to enter WWII, but I also think (from my non-pacifist's perspective) that it would've been morally justifiable to enter the war earlier based on our alliance with Britain.

I want those. Don't know when I'd wear them, but I want them.

Exactly.

Plus the genocide thing.

We're operating without the benefit of hindsight and certainly the American public didn't know the extent of the Holocaust during the war. The GIs who liberated the camps were shocked.

Hell, there were Germans who didn't know the extent of the Holocaust.

(Granted, there is probably a certain amount of denial involved in that -- the Jews seemed to know it was bad.)

the American public didn't know the extent of the Holocaust during the war

What about the American decision-makers?

Lee, damn. Those are some boots. Luckily I know I'd never wear them, so I'm safe.

I'm still trying to find the right moment for my red tights. Any time now, I'm sure.

certainly the American public didn't know the extent of the Holocaust during the war

but regardless of the what the American public knew, what did the American GOVERNMENT know? I'm hard-pressed to believe no word filtered out of Germany when the attrocities started.

What about the American decision-makers?

Hard to say. FDR had some information but there seems to be have been widespread distrust that it was true.

I'm not sure if that's after the fact ass-covering, but I do get that impression.

There were certainly intelligence reports indicating the mass deportation of Jews, but the White House didn't seem to think the death camps were real.

Lee, damn. Those are some boots. Luckily I know I'd never wear them, so I'm safe.

I have the ankle-high version of those. They're my snow boots.