Lest We Forget

Sunday marks the 60th anniversary of the Normandy invasion, and it is significant that for the first time, the leaders of Germany and Russia will be present at a D-Day commemoration. The Germans, after all, should have been there all along, since they played a fairly significant role in the battle. Russia's participation is something of a surprise, however. The Russians carried the brunt of the war against Hitler for three years before the western Allies could steel themselves to open the so-called second front -- something the Russians never forgot. Twenty million Russians died in the war against Nazi Germany, and Vladimir Putin would do well to propose a toast to the Red Army this weekend.
-- Tony Long