The United States was at peace with that nation

[Yeager]

Well folks, it getting to be that time again.  I am always moved by these words.  I post them here for their historical value and hope that people read and appreciate them as much as I do
====

Mr. Vice President, Mr. Speaker, members of the Senate and the House
of Representatives:

Yesterday, December 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the
United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by
naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.

The United States was at peace with that nation, and, at the
solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its government
and its Emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the
Pacific.

Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in
the American island of Oahu, the Japanese Ambassador to the United
States and his colleague delivered to our Secretary of State a formal
reply to a recent American message. And, while this reply stated that
it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it
contained no threat or hint of war or of armed attack.

It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it
obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even
weeks ago. During the intervening time the Japanese Government has
deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements
and expressions of hope for continued peace.

The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian Islands has caused severe damage
to American naval and military forces. I regret to tell you that very
many American lives have been lost. In addition, American ships have
been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and
Honolulu.

Yesterday the Japanese Government also launched an attack against
Malaya.

Last night Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong.

Last night Japanese forces attacked Guam.

Last night Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands.

Last night the Japanese attacked Wake Island.

And this morning the Japanese attacked Midway Island.

Japan has therefore undertaken a surprise offensive extending
throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday and today speak
for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed
their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life
and safety of our nation.

As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy I have directed that all
measures be taken for our defense, that always will our whole nation
remember the character of the onslaught against us.
No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated
invasion, the American people, in their righteous might, will win
through to absolute victory.

I believe that I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people
when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost
but will make it very certain that this form of treachery shall never
again endanger us.

Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people,
our territory and our interests are in grave danger.

With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination
of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph. So help us God.
I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and
dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7, 1941, a state of war
has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empire.

[SIG220]

It is ironic that Japan is the only nation that we ever dropped nuclear weapons on, yet now they are one of our best allies.

The latest news about Iran dropping their nuclear program back in 2003 really makes you wonder now.   Could they not have done that, because they became fearful of the United States after the invasion of Iraq that very same year???

Seems to be too much of a coincidence, to me.  And that would mean that Bush's aggressive policies were responsible for Iran giving up their plans to get the bomb.

Perhaps history will later given him credit for this.

SIG 220

[rpm]

Originally posted by SIG220
Perhaps history will later given him credit for this.

Only after the kool aid revolution rewrites the book.

[Eagler]

my guess is that many who think Iraq is over oil are in the same group who believe FDR and/or Churchill allowed Pearl Harbor to happen to force America into a war the majority of its citizens did not want to join.

[Saxman]

Um.

Just WHAT does any of that have to do with FDR's request for declaration of war?

If threads were trains Sig220 would be a penny thrown on the tracks to knock it off the rails.

[MORAY37]

Originally posted by Eagler
my guess is that many who think Iraq is over oil are in the same group who believe FDR and/or Churchill allowed Pearl Harbor to happen to force America into a war the majority of its citizens did not want to join.

I truly wonder how many of you know why Pearl Harbor was attacked.  Comparing Iran to the Japanese?  That's just plain ludacris.

The Japanese were pushed into confrontation with us by our stopping export of our oil to them in late 1939 in response to their invasion of Manchuria, which of course pushed US into war with them.  When we stopped our export of oil, it was only a matter of time till they were forced to confront us or they would starve; They only had about one year's worth of oil in country.

Originally, the Japanese were completely against confontation with the U.S. and saw it as "not worth the risk".  Our hardline stance forced them to invent the technology (shallow running torps, first use of carrier based airpower) with which they needed to disable the US PACFLEET, and therefore enable them to go after oil in the west pacific.

[midnight Target]

I wonder what would have changed had the Japanese attacked and taken Midway instead of just shelling it with destroyers?

[FrodeMk3]

Originally posted by Yeager
Well folks, it getting to be that time again.  I am always moved by these words.  I post them here for their historical value and hope that people read and appreciate them as much as I do
====

Mr. Vice President, Mr. Speaker, members of the Senate and the House
of Representatives:

Yesterday, December 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the
United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by
naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.

The United States was at peace with that nation, and, at the
solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its government
and its Emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the
Pacific.

Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in
the American island of Oahu, the Japanese Ambassador to the United
States and his colleague delivered to our Secretary of State a formal
reply to a recent American message. And, while this reply stated that
it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it
contained no threat or hint of war or of armed attack.

It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it
obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even
weeks ago. During the intervening time the Japanese Government has
deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements
and expressions of hope for continued peace.

The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian Islands has caused severe damage
to American naval and military forces. I regret to tell you that very
many American lives have been lost. In addition, American ships have
been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and
Honolulu.

Yesterday the Japanese Government also launched an attack against
Malaya.

Last night Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong.

Last night Japanese forces attacked Guam.

Last night Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands.

Last night the Japanese attacked Wake Island.

And this morning the Japanese attacked Midway Island.

Japan has therefore undertaken a surprise offensive extending
throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday and today speak
for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed
their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life
and safety of our nation.

As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy I have directed that all
measures be taken for our defense, that always will our whole nation
remember the character of the onslaught against us.
No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated
invasion, the American people, in their righteous might, will win
through to absolute victory.

I believe that I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people
when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost
but will make it very certain that this form of treachery shall never
again endanger us.

Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people,
our territory and our interests are in grave danger.

With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination
of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph. So help us God.
I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and
dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7, 1941, a state of war
has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empire.

Ty for posting that, Yeager. <> To any of the surviving WWII vets out there.

[lazs2]

so moray.. you believe that the japs had no intention of ever building an asian empire with them at the head and that they would have simply stayed on their little island like nice folk if we hadn't "forced" em to "defend" themselves?

I have always wondered how people who believe this came by that theory.

I guess there is a grain of truth to it.. if we would have let em have everything they wanted they might of saved us for last.

lazs

[Rino]

Originally posted by MORAY37
I truly wonder how many of you know why Pearl Harbor was attacked.  Comparing Iran to the Japanese?  That's just plain ludacris.

The Japanese were pushed into confrontation with us by our stopping export of our oil to them in late 1939 in response to their invasion of Manchuria, which of course pushed US into war with them.  When we stopped our export of oil, it was only a matter of time till they were forced to confront us or they would starve; They only had about one year's worth of oil in country.

Originally, the Japanese were completely against confontation with the U.S. and saw it as "not worth the risk".  Our hardline stance forced them to invent the technology (shallow running torps, first use of carrier based airpower) with which they needed to disable the US PACFLEET, and therefore enable them to go after oil in the west pacific.

     Golly, if only we had overlooked their little adventure in Manchuria and
allowed them to rape and pillage the mainland in peace, we could have
avoided that whole WW2 unpleasantness

     After all, we obviously forced them into attacking another country in the
first place.

[Rino]

Originally posted by midnight Target
I wonder what would have changed had the Japanese attacked and taken Midway instead of just shelling it with destroyers?

I'm thinking that the war would have been conducted out of Pearl..pretty much
like it was.  Midway was a good logistics center, but hardly a linchpin of US
strategy.

[lasersailor184]

Originally posted by Yeager
Well folks, it getting to be that time again.  I am always moved by these words.  I post them here for their historical value and hope that people read and appreciate them as much as I do
====

Mr. Vice President, Mr. Speaker, members of the Senate and the House
of Representatives:

Yesterday, December 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the
United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by
naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.

The United States was at peace with that nation, and, at the
solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its government
and its Emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the
Pacific.

Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in
the American island of Oahu, the Japanese Ambassador to the United
States and his colleague delivered to our Secretary of State a formal
reply to a recent American message. And, while this reply stated that
it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it
contained no threat or hint of war or of armed attack.

It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it
obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even
weeks ago. During the intervening time the Japanese Government has
deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements
and expressions of hope for continued peace.

The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian Islands has caused severe damage
to American naval and military forces. I regret to tell you that very
many American lives have been lost. In addition, American ships have
been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and
Honolulu.

Yesterday the Japanese Government also launched an attack against
Malaya.

Last night Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong.

Last night Japanese forces attacked Guam.

Last night Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands.

Last night the Japanese attacked Wake Island.

And this morning the Japanese attacked Midway Island.

Japan has therefore undertaken a surprise offensive extending
throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday and today speak
for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed
their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life
and safety of our nation.

As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy I have directed that all
measures be taken for our defense, that always will our whole nation
remember the character of the onslaught against us.
No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated
invasion, the American people, in their righteous might, will win
through to absolute victory.

I believe that I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people
when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost
but will make it very certain that this form of treachery shall never
again endanger us.

Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people,
our territory and our interests are in grave danger.

With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination
of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph. So help us God.
I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and
dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7, 1941, a state of war
has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empire.

Buy American.

[Saxman]

Moray,

You DO realize that the same type of equipment and tactics "pioneered" by the Japanese at Pearl Harbor were first used by the British at Taranto, right?

[FiLtH]

Originally posted by midnight Target
I wonder what would have changed had the Japanese attacked and taken Midway instead of just shelling it with destroyers?

   I dont think they could have held it for long. Actually I dont know why they later attacked Midway with intent to capture it. It is  a long ways from any japanese port. If they have won Midway, Im sure that island and any ships in the area would have benn bombed daily. I mean ya, bait out the US fleet to destroy it, but why the invasion force?

[Rich46yo]

Some points,

                          The Japs had already over-ran and enslaved Korea, and much of China, showing such wanton cruelty that even the German observers were moved to protest. Imagine that? Even the Nazis were sickened.

                         I get a good laugh at the revisionists who say we provoked the war by shutting off their oil and other materials they need to import to supply their war machine. That same war machine was busy creating a slave empire that had designs on the entire far East. Only a blind man, or a stupid one, would have been able to look around the world in 1940 and think we could avoid war.

                     Oil was part of the reason we went into Iraq. Just like mineral wealth was part of the reason we fought WW-ll and the Cold war. We poured untold millions into Africa to prop up dictators and friendly regimes just to assure steady supplies of vital resources any modern nation needs. Cobalt, magnesium, oil, tin, bauxite, chromium, zinc, copper, rubber, diamonds, gold, uranium...ect Most people dont know it but Vietnam is also very rich in certain minerals and resources.

                   And then theres oil? Why else would we be in that wretched part of the world unless for oil? For Democracy? Those people wouldnt know what to do with it even if they saw it. Believe me, Ive been there.

                 But without these resources our entire economy would grind to a halt and we would be in a terrible position. So actually mineral wealth, or accessibility to it, is one of the few actual good reasons to go to war. But most people are to blind to see it, or to immature to accept it. The same clowns screaming "no blood for oil" are also the same ones screaming about higher gas prices when filling up their SUVs.

                          The bottom line is Wars have almost always been fought for mineral and resource wealth. And always will be.