When Neville Chamberlain returned to London after his trip to Berlin in 1938, Britain thunderously applauded his action to stave off war with Nazi Germany and fascist Italy by doing something that, to the British, seemed reasonable to them: giving Adolf Hitler what he wanted, including Czechoslovakia, without a fight. “How horrible, fantastic, incredible it is that we should be digging trenches and trying on gas masks here because of a quarrel in a far-away country between people of whom we know nothing,” Chamberlain explained. Britain tended to agree.

The sentiment is almost precisely the same among America and many other countries toward Iran. The actions are different, but that may be due to the fact that Iran knows it would quickly lose to the United States in open war. Many Americans do not see a point to taking pains to ensure Iran does not possess nuclear weapons. Fueled by the passion that people and countries should be able to run themselves how they very well please, Americans want the government out of the affairs of other countries.

Not only was diplomacy “successfully” used in the eyes of many, but the sanctions on Iran were significantly toned down. France, Germany, and other European powers seemed happier than could be with the deal that has next to nothing to do with them in a situation that is eerily similar to 1938 western Europe. The only nation that decried the deal is the only one that it actually affects: Israel. Blunt thought they were, the seriousness of the deal may be understated when Israel called it an “historic mistake.”

History showed us the result of such callous non-concern displayed by Chamberlain’s appeasement. World War II steamrolled through Europe, and Britain ended up in total war with Germany, anyway, without an ally and a piece of their integrity. Fortunately for Britain, Winston Churchill came to power and led the nation through an extraordinarily difficult time. President Obama has certainly filled the role of America’s Neville Chamberlain, but it does not seem like there is any Churchill waiting in the wings.

Americans appear to be largely unconcerned with the possible threat of a nuclear Iran. Slumping support for Israel is likely somewhat responsible for this trend, as Americans see the Iran-Israel feud as a foreign squabble with which they have no business involving themselves with. The paramount importance of the nation of Israel is realized by a continually shrinking number of Americans, and support for Israel falters as a result. Israel aside, it is nevertheless astounding that Americans are not concerned by Iran’s open threats about America. “The Great Satan” is not a flattering description.

Everyone knows that it is an impossibility for all nations to like them. The question becomes, what type of nation do you want calling you “The Great Satan?”