We face the delicate question of the diplomatic fencing to be done so as to be sure Japan is put into the wrong and makes the first bad move. ... The question was how we should maneuver them [the Japanese] into the position of firing the first shot.
No doubt, I know they were pushed into it, but just like the Confederates at Ft Sumter, they still fired the first shot. Furthermore, they didn't think strategically when it came to target selection at Pearl Harbor, they left the fuel oil tanks alone, and completely ignored all shipyard facilities. They should have sent a third wave to hit those targets, but Nagumo was too timid.
There's a slight, but I believe important difference between the two situations. fort Sumter was indeed a union fort, but it was deep within Confederate territory and the CSA just declared itself an independent nation. It could be argued that the Union was illegally occupying the CSA and were expelled with force.
Pearl harbor was US territory amongst US held space. Unlike fort Sumter, you cannot claim that the attack on Pearl harbor was defensive.
"Japan committed horrible war crimes and saw the sun twice because of it"
--something I was told on another win a few weeks ago
I've been to Hiroshima, stood in front of the bombed out Observatory. What was I thinking?
"Don't start what you can't finish."
---Henry L. Stimson Secretary of war
Who started it again?
No doubt, I know they were pushed into it, but just like the Confederates at Ft Sumter, they still fired the first shot. Furthermore, they didn't think strategically when it came to target selection at Pearl Harbor, they left the fuel oil tanks alone, and completely ignored all shipyard facilities. They should have sent a third wave to hit those targets, but Nagumo was too timid.
There's a slight, but I believe important difference between the two situations. fort Sumter was indeed a union fort, but it was deep within Confederate territory and the CSA just declared itself an independent nation. It could be argued that the Union was illegally occupying the CSA and were expelled with force.
Pearl harbor was US territory amongst US held space. Unlike fort Sumter, you cannot claim that the attack on Pearl harbor was defensive.