July 5

1943 - The Battle of Kursk began (ended August 23):  WWII.

Kursk was an awesome battle, fought with massive armies and the most modern weapons of its time. It is still the largest tank battle in history.

Germans: 2,700 tanks, 200 aircraft, 800,000 troops...Soviets: 3,500 tanks, 1,000 aircraft, 1,300,000 troops.

The Soviets suffered more casualties (a 4:1 ratio), but had many more troops and machines to expend, and the results of Kursk were such that the Germans spent the rest of the war (in the East) on the run.

1097 - The Crusaders captured Jerusalem, and massacred 10,000 of its inhabitants:  First Crusade.

Lets not forget this was a semi-barbaric time, and the Christian Crusaders were anything but godly...This massacre was completely unnecessary and barbarous, and one they had reciprocated on them at a later date.

1870 - Georgia became the last Confederate state to be readmitted to the Union.

The nation was whole again...Physically, if not emotionally.

1945 - Italy declared war on its former Axis partner, Japan:  WWII.

Gotta love the Italians playing all sides in the war...These losers probably claim to be on the winning side.

1950 - Israel passed the Law of Return, guaranteeing all Jews the right to live in Israel.

A permanent homeland for a people who've been without one for millennia...They will have to fight to keep it, and the odds are overwhelmingly against them, but if they can hold it they deserve it as much as anyone.

This is the answer which should be given to anyone who questions Israel's right to exist - as well as those who claim it does...Every country has a right to exist as long as it can keep it. Such is the only true rule of human history.

1979 - President Carter delivered his 'malaise' speech in which he lamented what he called a "crisis of confidence" in America.

Jimmy was absolutely correct, which should be expected when the nation is led by such a pathetic leader as himself...A situation we relived from 2008-2016.  A situation we are desperately trying to climb out of, but are being forced to stay in by those whose only goal is to reestablish power:  Liberal Democrats.

1993 - A United Nations team left Iraq after trying for more than a month to persuade the Baghdad government to allow surveillance cameras at two former missile test sites.

So, Saddam thumbed his nose at the U.N. for the 100th time. Yet we were supposed to allow the U.N. to keep debating with Iraq instead of taking him out...Appeasement at its finest.

2000 - At the United Nations, President Bill Clinton signed an international agreement to ban the forcible recruitment of youths as soldiers in armed conflict, and a companion accord to protect children from being forced into slavery, prostitution and pornography.

Horrible crimes for sure, but how did the U.N. and Clinton plan on upholding its ban? "With spitballs?" - Z. Miller