[LS]

Isn't it amazing how "close-run" a thing history is? Say Yamamoto decides to cancel the Kuriles operation and has his work crews get the Zuikaku back in shape for Midway, and hits us with an additional 100 aircraft? Maybe we don't get out of Hawaii until mid-1943.

Or if Howe (I think it was Howe) doesn't sit on his butt in Philadelphia for a month, but instead pursues Washington's army, which was falling apart? We'd be at the mercy of Chuck and Bow Wow Boles.

[reformedliberal]

Are you familiar with the alt history novels of Harry Turtledove? In "Days Of Infamy", he postulates how the Japanese could not only have taken the Hawaiian Islands, but used them to launch an offensive against the mainland. Sobering to realize just how "close-run", as you said, things really are. Sometimes I have to put one down in the middle so I can come back to our reality before continuing with the novel.

Also, no one should have any illusions on how our opponents would treat us if they win. No rebuilding, no Marshall Plan, just oppressions, killings and tribute for as long as they could hold our land.