Preventing Horror

After a lengthy discussion on Saturday with Paul on whether the horrors of the Soviet Union could have been prevented, he recommended the quick World War II alternate history Triumph in which Churchill assassinates Stalin during the war. Although competently written, the possible changes in the timeline precipitated by Stalin's early death are merely hinted at rather than explored in depth.

If we must make common cause with an evil regime (like the Soviet Union) in order to defeat a even more evil regime (like Hitler's Germany), the least we can do is be honest about the compromise being made. To sell a ruthless dictator as "Uncle Joe Stalin" is an unpardonable sin. But given FDR's politics, perhaps Stalin really was an ideological uncle of sorts.