Blunder Harbor

[tchell]

It seems to me that the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor was more of a gesture that declared war on the US than an actual attempt to damage the US and remove its threat from the war. Sure the US lost 18 ships, 349 aircraft, and 3581 combatants, but all of those things were not critical to America. They had plenty more ships, planes and soldiers to replace those that were lost. The Japanese failed to attack any critical points such as oil tanks, the headquarters building on the island, the naval yard and other important objectives. Whats the point of an attack that just 'wakes the sleeping bear' and makes it angry?

[Mr. Delainey]

In the long-term, I tend to agree with you Andrew. The economic potential of the USA absolutely dwarfed the Japanese potential to indefinitely maintain its empire.

However, I disagree with you when I consider the short-term; that is, the blow struck by Japan at Pearl Harbor did diminish the United States naval strength in the Pacific such that the Empire of Japan knew nothing but victory and the initiative for virtually the next two years of war.