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September 03, 2004

History in the making?

Some Austrians are questioning Schwarzenegger's memory of Soviet tanks and socialism.

UPDATE: Del Mar reader F points out that the AP story doesn't really refute or contradict anything in Schwarzenegger's speech:

Arnold mentioned "...we had to cross into the Soviet sector" clearly implying he did not live in the Soviet Sector. Soviets occupied part of Austria until 1955 when Arnold was 8 years old.

Arnold said "I saw the socialist country that Austria became..." He did not say the Socialist Party was in power, but Austria was certainly a socialist country in 1968. Perhaps, Arnold could be corrected in the fact that Austria was already a Socialist Country when he was born, but I think this would be nit picking.

Others will debate F's definition of socialism. But he says some Austrian industries were nationalized after the war, and cites this web site (link to privatization) as evidence.