Interesting article that I agree with and one that highlights another aspect of the Bush administration destroying a century of bipartisan foreign policy... and morality. Also, we tend not to pay as much heed to Justice Jackson as we should.
Ummm, no. Surely you (and the author) recognize that much of the anger over Pearl Harbor wasn't just the preemptive nature of the attack but the surprise factor. I am not defending our actions in Iraq by any means but was there a person on the planet who wasn't aware of what our actions were going to be seversl months before we went into Iraq?
This is a hugely important and often overlooked fact. For all intents and purposes, this action guarunteed a japanese military conflict. Roosevelt knew this.
The US embargo on Oil to Japan did not help matters much either...they were going to war eventually. DD
There was definitely surprise at how it happened, but among the political class and the educated, I don't think there was great surprise that we found ourselves at war with Japan. Indeed, it had been talked about for months and the public was well aware of the hostilities brewing. Take, for instance, this headline from the NYTimes in August of 1941... Here's a sampling of more articles leading up to December 7.
I can understand there being some expectation of war. But are you saying you see no distinction between the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the invasion of Iraq in regards to surprise/deceit? I guess in my mind using Pearl Harbor as an example of Pre-emptive attacks is similar to using Hitler comparisons for every bad person in the world. It is using language for hyperbolic and emotional responses, not for the comparison itself.
This goes to the point of American exceptionalism so that we can do no wrong even when we break or modify the rules by which we judge others. That said though even if we leave Pearl Harbor aside I think war was inevitable and even without a sneak attack on Pearl Harbor its not like the Japanese Empire wasn't doing a lot of other evil things already.
A day that will live in infamy. *Salute* to the lives lost amidst the tragedy of war. Bump for the day, not the article or previous discussion.
In the house I grew up in in the 50's and 60's, December 7th was always referred to as National Kill A Jap Day My apologies to Kirouji (sp?)
That's an amazing mispelling, if that's referring to me. I think I can understand that sentiment pretty well - my mother, who was also raised during that timeframe, takes the completely opposite nationalistic tack and claims Nanking never happened and that the Chinese should be grateful, which is...... interesting, if I'm going to say anything. Either way, like I've said, most people my generation understand that running amok 70 years ago wasn't the brightest idea, and if anything I think they're bit too subdued. I basically mean that while from an American perspective, I like the influence we have over Japan, from a Japanese one, I do think we need to be somewhat more independent.
I got most of the letters. And you are the only Japanese-centric poster I am aware of. It's funny how indoctrinated I was by my Dad, and I played army every day but it never took as prejudice. ( as I've said here before, he spent 3 years in the Pacific, never closer to home than Australia, facing his death and the death of his friends every day with Dengue Fever and Malaria, he could think whatever the F he wanted)
Ironically my father was born on Dec 7th and was celebrating his 1st birthday when the bombing happened. Happy Birthday Dad, and never forget a date which lives in Infamy. DD
