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WWII discussion forum / Re: pacific blunder
« on: October 21, 2006, 02:47:34 AM »
The only completely fatal mistake was to bomb Pearl Harbor in a suprise attack. The American response to the attack was outrage and determination to fight until Japan was destroyed.
If they had made a conventional declaration of war, and not made any surprise attacks, it is just barely possible (although still very unlikely) that the Americans would have made peace on terms other than unconditional surrender.
Also, the attacks were not that useful. It would have been better to let the American battleships come out and sink them in deep water. And judging by slow American response in the Phillipines to news of Pearl Harbor, Clark Field would have been unprepared even if a declaration was made the day before attacks began. And even if not, so what, it wouldn't have made much difference.
If they had made a conventional declaration of war, and not made any surprise attacks, it is just barely possible (although still very unlikely) that the Americans would have made peace on terms other than unconditional surrender.
Also, the attacks were not that useful. It would have been better to let the American battleships come out and sink them in deep water. And judging by slow American response in the Phillipines to news of Pearl Harbor, Clark Field would have been unprepared even if a declaration was made the day before attacks began. And even if not, so what, it wouldn't have made much difference.