Jim Bell wrote:
While this may be based on the "classic" view of the start of the direct involvement in WWII, I agree with the opinion of an old college professor that the US KNEW that the Japanese were going to attack, SOMEWHERE and SOMEWHEN (but not exactly), and in fact WANTED the attack to occur to justify getting into a war that we "should" have entered.
Alan Horowitz added:
I've read that FDR had a humint source warning of a Japanese strike on Pearl Harbor. I also recall reading that J Edgar Hoover received a report of a diplomatic conversation detailing the planned attack, but sat on it.
And this is from a post I sent to the list last summer: *************************************************************** I just read 'Infamy' by John Toland (1982), containing 'proof' - very convincing, in my opinion - of the Pearl Harbour cover-up. The US president, selected members of his cabinette and a few admirals and generals knew - from Magic and the 'winds' execute, radio traffic analysis, diplomatic sources, double agents - exactly when and where the Japaneese were going to attack, but didn't warn Hawaii, fearing that too efficient counter-measures by the Oahu military might make the attack abort and so not convince the isolationists. The unexpected tactical capabilities of the Japaneese armada then made a cover-up all the more important. ***************************************************************** The unfortunate cipher expert Captain Safford spent most of his post-war life trying to uphold the honour of his fellow cryptanalysts, putting the blame on generals and politicians, but in vain. 'Infamy' is an interesting book. Asgaard