So…what kind of war would they be sent into??
I mean, it’s no longer “foreign” when another country invades your territories, and you have to declare war on them.
And, when some other country declares war on you (other Axis Powers), it’s no longer foreign.
So, not a lie.
I suppose the story was an invasion of Mexico followed by a land assault on the US. Or, even some alliance. People probably remembered the Zimmermann Cable…
in January 1917 that proposed a military alliance between Germany and Mexico. Mexico would recover Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico.
Others thought defend the Philippines against an amphibious assault. (Way too late for that.)
I expect the people in-the-know knew better and this was just political cover. Just like FDR’s election promise.
The gov’t may have been ramping up for war. And some of the public certainly agreed. But, there was a very large anti-war group.
Read my lips
No new wars