Quote:
Originally Posted by Torplexed
It is a fascinating speculation, how events might have unfolded if the U.S. and it's Philippines dependency had been excluded from Japanese war plans in December 1941. Had Tokyo confined itself to occupying British Malaya and Burma, along with the Dutch East Indies.(where all the oil and rubber was) Roosevelt would certainly have wanted to enter the war and confront Japanese aggression. The question is whether Congress and public sentiment would have allowed the president to declare war in the absence of a direct assault on American national interests. Certainly, without a surprise attack on a sleeping fleet there would not have been the sense of national outrage that unified the country overnight. Going to war to defend European colonies and possessions in the far east wouldn't have had the rallying effect of "Remember Pearl Harbor."
However, since the Japanese couldn't see any way of keeping the US from getting involved if they descended on British and Dutch colonies they went ahead and including knocking out the U.S. Pacific Fleet on their war plans. A poor move if Yamamoto endorsed doing it. But then I always thought he was overrated anyway.
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Well, and why do you think Japan attacked USA in the first place?...Because USA basically left no other choice for Japan, esp when you consider japan was to 80% relying on US oil, cutting that of they HAD to invade the oil rich nations/colonies!
In my view Roosevelt was anticipating the japanese attack somehow, even wanting it! Japan planned to declare war to US and attack PH some hours later...but they messed that up nicely, so Roosevelt had the best propaganda argument ever with the socalled "Day of Infamy" to get US citizens enraged enough to enter war(most US people didnt want any war involvement whatsoever), without being the aggressor but the attacked one!
As said im very sure they anticipated an attack somewhere somehow...maybe not as severe as the actual attack
You think Yamamoto was overrated? I think you wrong there, his MAIN goal with attacking PH was to eliminate the US carriers, which where "luckily" not there...on receiving the message that no carriers where found/hit he said that from now on it will be impossible to beat the USA, esp after its industrial moloch starts to gear up....and maybe you dont know but he studied in the UK and im sure he was often in the USA, so i guess he could judge the overall situation well enough to do what he did!
Both sides knew a conflict was inevitable, but Roosevelt played his deck much better than the japs did, and as others here said already, the winner writes the history, for Roosevelt surely wanted to enter the war to help Britain on one hand and to keep the upperhand in the pacific!
Well the following maybe a bit of a conspiracy theory, but the similarities between Pearl Harbour and 9/11 are striking...they knew something was to happen so they could manipulate public opinion to reach their goals!
But where Roosevelt played his deck like a real pro, Bush administration just acted very plumb and stupid!
I guess some of you want to sacrifice me for what i wrote here, its just my personal opinion...being a "modern" german i get sceptical when thing fit too nicely to be just coincidance...
Damn i didnt want to produce epic wall of text, but i kinda had to
Edit: Totally forgot what i wanted to write in the first place :P...the ONLY major players in the pacific was Japan, the USA and UK empire(busy/bound by germany)