The historical record was there for them to see. The primary cause the US got into wars was naval.
1. Barbary Pirates - They were taking our merchants and enslaving our citizens. The US Navy was founded on Anti-Piracy.
2. War of 1812 - British stopping US ships and pressing US sailors.
3. Spanish American War - USS Maine blowing up in Havana harbor.
4. World War One - German unrestricted submarine warfare killing Americans in our and other's ships.
The Japanese learned the first rule of Naval Warfare the hard way. As they would later warn the world, "Don't touch the American's boats."
SpyNavy
Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)
No question strategically. The operational aspects are what interests me. So it is with this situation we face today. Hopefully the operational scope will be shorter and the aftermath one of decisiveness.