Thursday, December 07, 2006

December 7, 1941

It's been 65 years since the Japanese Empire comitted the first act of war against us at Pearl Harbor. The 18-year-old recruits who fought back are now 83 years old, and have decided that is will be their last reunion. It's with great pride that we salute those veterans one last time as the passing of the "Greatest Generation".

On to matters of historical debate: Col. Oliver North did a show recently exploring the possibility that FDR was aware of the Japanese plan to attack Pearl Harbor, but allowed it happen for the benefit of the run-to-the-flag reaction it generated. Although there were many clues in the few hours preceeding the attack, information leaks to anyone outside the Imperial Navy are extremely unlikely. The US Navy simply had no idea this could have happened.

I'm all about investigating possible conspiracies, but this one happened in a time where communication was anything but instant, and even further from reliable. In fact, the Emperor had intended to deliver their declaration of war to the US Department of State as early as 4 hours prior to the attack, but the transmission was delayed, and was not recieved until after the damage reports were being processed.

According to interviews with Japanese veterans, they had no idea the Americans weren't suspecting acts of war. A Samurai proverb states that one should always wake one's enemy before killing. A Japanese submarine was depth-charged in the wee hours, but the Navy didn't think enough about that to place the force at general quarters. The first wave of attack aircraft was spotted on radar, but the radar officer mistook the gigantic wave to be a scheduled flight of B-17's from the mainland. Remember that radar technology was in its infancy in those days.

The 2,000+ Americans that were killed that day were ultimately avenged, but it cost hundreds of thousands more. The concept of Boshido engrained a stubborness to fight that so emboldened the War Party of Japan that only a pair of nuclear bombs dissuaded further fighting. With this 65th anniversary, I think we should all close the case on the rumors of FDR's prior knowledge, and celebrate the heros that beat brutal oppression into submission all over the Asian continent and the Pacific Ocean.

6 comments:

BlackLabelAxe said...

Sorry, somebody posted advertising spam and I had to regulate that shit.

BigNewsDay said...

Yeah, I see that in my inbox. Thanks Axe!

BTW, great post. I agree that people are messed up inthe head if they think that FDR would have done something like that.

Daydreamer of Oz said...

Thanks so much for posting this, BLA. I actually have very little knowledge about it but had heard many times that the govt "knew" it was going to happen.

Actually I've had it put to me that prior knowledge is a pretty accepted fact now so its nice to see that there's not so much truth to it.

metallord said...

Yes good post BLA and hell come bye to MPA dude........

B.L. Sabob: Not amused said...

Oliver North, as usual, proves that he's a walking bag of regurgitated fecal matter. He should be preparing for a parole board hearing, not his next propaganda show. He suggests that FDR had prior knowledge of Pearl Harbor but you can bet your ass that he and the rest of the Faux News Chatting Chimp Brigade would all chuckle hardily and then get their red white and blue panties in a twist at anyone suggesting that the Busha Nostra had any prior knowledge about 911.

WWII was the last good war. Every conflict that the US has been inolved with siince then (and quite a few before it) have merely been cases of politicians doing the bidding of their donors by sending off expendable youth to kill and die for Corporate Interests.

"In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the militaryindustrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist. We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes."
-- Dwight D. Eisenhower

Lefty Metalhead said...

You couldn't have put it better BLSABOB. It seems as though the GOP fucktards always try to belittle one of our greatest presidents - FDR. They just hate the idea that he expanded the federal government. If anyone were to say that BushCo. knew about 9/11, he or she would probably be swift-boated, or sent to the Gallows. Hypocrisy is such a despicable thing.