Was Charles Right ?

[modeller]

Prince Charles compared Stalin with Hitler which may have been undiplomatic but was he right ?
Russia and Germany did sign a pact and invaded Poland within a fortnight of each other. Six weeks later Russia invaded little Finland .
At the time Hitler and Stalin were considered twin evils in the eyes of the West and had Hitler not attacked Russia a year later it would have remained so. Subsequently Russia attacked and enslaved all those countries east of Germany plus East Germany.
I'm not surprised Putin isn't making a big issue of Charles' remarks .

[ichkeria]

I think it was Putin that the Prince compared to Hitler.
A notable similarity between the two is that both used the excuse of "beleaguered" Germans/Russians in their near abroad as a basis for an aggressive and bullying foreign policy. Hitler had a huge advantage over Putin though: he had Stalin as an ally, and he also was not dependent on his "enemies" to look after his ill-gotten gains as Putin is :-)

[modeller]

Yes you are right but as I understood it, it was in the context of history not just recent events.

[mikey4444]

Its seems to me that Chas has inherited his father's "foot-in-mouth" genes here. His track record on being non-offensive and diplomatic is sadly lacking in any credibility, and he will soon be our head of state. The Republic cannot come quick enough for me !

[naomi24]

//The Republic cannot come quick enough for me ! //

And a socialist one at that .... God(?) help us!

[mikey4444]

It may be Socialist naomi, or it maybe a Tory republic. Who knows, after the events of the last few days, it might even be a UKIP republic ?

But it will be a democratic republic.....not really sure what it is wrong with that ? Don't you support democracy naomi, even if the result is not to your personal liking ?

[naomi24]

Yes, I do - and fortunately we don't all think like you, Mikey.

[mikey4444]

That is the burden of Democracy naomi...everybody's opinion counts, even when it doesn't concur with yours, or mine !

[naomi24]

Indeed, which is why the Queen is still Queen. Never mind Mikey. ;o)

[Old_Geezer]

The trouble is everyone's opinion counts ... for very little.
Still it'd be a nice thing to try one day.

Stalin / Putin, well maybe easy to get confused.

In a previous thread I think the OP made the point that the biggest issue was whether it was a politically wise thing to do, to state the opinion. I think Putin needs to be watched as his actions seem more to do with raising morale and popularity at home than it does about doing the right thing. One needs to know it isn't going any further,

[mikey4444]

OG...I agree. All that Chas has done here is to give Putin the oxygen of publicity by his unwise remarks. Why can't the Royals just do what is expected of them...open fetes, hospitals, and keep their mouths shut ?

[ichkeria]

Have Charles's remarks actually done any harm? I don't think so! Putin's reply was interesting.

[Canary42]

Charles (unlike our current monarch) is hardly a model of moral righteousness.