[InformedConsent]

Originally Posted by MTAtech

That 'bombed to smithereens' argument is often used, but it is essentially wrong. While Europe had little industrial capacity, it also had little money to buy U.S. goods and services, which were very expensive to foreigners.

Failed deflection. The point is that goods made in the U.S. did not have to compete with foreign-made goods in the U.S. or any other market.

...the disruptions of war made the 1930s and 1940s less than propitious times for Europe to emulate America's example. Consequently, by the end of World War II, the United States had opened up a huge lead in levels of output and productivity. But this also meant that there existed an extraordinary backlog of technological and organizational knowledge ready for Europe's commercial use. By licensing American technology... - The European Economy Since 1945: Coordinated Capitalism and Beyond By Barry Eichengreen

Europe was devastated by years of conflict during World War II. Millions of people had been killed or wounded. Industrial and residential centers in England, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Belgium and elsewhere lay in ruins. Much of Europe was on the brink of famine as agricultural production had been disrupted by war. Transportation infrastructure was in shambles. The only major power in the world that was not significantly damaged was the United States. ...Officially known as the European Recovery Program (ERP), the Marshall Plan was intended to rebuild the economies and spirits of western Europe, primarily.

The Marshall Plan

So... when does the bombing and economic destruction of our competitors begin?