Quote:
Originally Posted by Skybird
I belong to that camp that believes that Roosevelt pressed the Japanese only for one reason over the oil so hard until they finally either had to completely give up their ambitions to become the regional dominating power, or would need to attack America and overcome it in order to break open the "oil-garotte": Roosevelt wanted america netering the war in Europe as well, but was opposed by a congress and a public mood that simply was opposing that idea and preferred the production of cars and refrigerators to that of tanks and warplanes. If Roosevelt would have failed to make the Japanese attack, he would have found another way to enter the war. I am very sure he also saw the chance that America would inherit the Britsh empire's estate, because after the air battle of Britain and the U-Boot war having brought Britain twice to breaking point it was clear that however the war ended, the empire never would be able to live up to it'S former power and glory again. If in the wake of that taking over from the British, Japanese interference with American intentions for domination in the Pacific could be switched off as well - the better.
I think of Roosevelt as both being sly and intelloigent, and unscrupellous. considering the cirucmstances at that time of history, that maybe was the best imaginable combination of characteristics for the US leader.
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@Skybird: Have you heard of the book "Day of Deceit"? If you haven't read it, the basis for the book is to clear Kimmel and Shorts names in the Pearl Harbor attack. While some of the accusations are alittle far fetched, a large portion of the book is from recently declassified info (first hand sources). In a nutshell, the author says that FDR was pushing Japan into an attack, so the US would be in a posistion to go to Britain's aid. I'd be curious to hear your opinion on the book. Many of the critics of the book stat: A US president would NEVER do anything like that, or it's not first hand info (which is totally wrong, it's all first hand data).
Anyway, I thought it was interesting.