CougarGA7: "This is actually the second time you have posted the 8 items and the third time Ive seen them posted on these threads. So much for never actually listed."I recently posted a barely legible photocopy of one page of McCollum's memo. The posting's purpose was not to discuss the eight-actions, but simply demonstrate that the memo is real.
CougarGA7: "I already put in my two cents on these last month. Its just not as impressive as the conspiracy nuts want to believe it is."
It demonstrates beyond reasonable doubt the inspiration behind Roosevelt's actions toward Japan in 1941 -- the need to create "much ado" in the hopes that if "Japan could be led to commit an overt act of war, so much the better."
It shows that FDR was not acting randomly, or maneuvering to avoid war, but rather was purposely doing the opposite.
Of course, it in no way proves that FDR's inner circle knew or suspected an attack was coming on Pearl Harbor in December, 1941. But it does show that in some ways he wanted and expected some such attack.
And just so we keep things on the "fair and balanced" side -- if you are going to call me a "conspiracy nut", then I'll call you a "Pearl Harbor denier", pal. ;-)
Though I didn't call you specifically a conspiracy nut in that post, I do appreciate that you recognize that you fall into that group. Understanding you have a problem is the first step towards a remedy. As to calling me a "Pearl Harbor denier", I think that's pretty funny. I don't recall ever denying Pearl Harbor happened, but whatever makes you feel better about yourself.
Now I had actually forgotten about your posting the photocopy of the memo, so I stand corrected. You have posted McCollum's 8 point memo three times, not two. And it's been posted 4 times total.
The problems with the McCollum memo are really many. As for those who read my breakdown of the memo last month will have seen. Aside from the fact that there has never been any proof that this memo was even seen by the President, it just isn't impressive.
Three of the items on the list never happened, two were already policy, two were a logical extension of an existing policy and one happened late and clearly unrelated to any memo, but related to a shift in planning in the War Department.
So again, I don't see any proof here that FDR knew Pearl Harbor was going to get hit and allowed his fleet to get sunk.
You deny two key points:
CougarGA7:"You have posted McCollum's 8 point memo three times, not two."
Then your ability to search through previous posts is better than mine.
I've looked back through my February posts, and except for that hard-to-read photocopy, can't find where the complete list of Eight Actions was ever posted before.
CougarGA7: "Aside from the fact that there has never been any proof that this memo was even seen by the President..."
Personally, knowing how bureaucracies & military hierarchies work, I doubt seriously if Navy Commander McCollum even originated those eight actions.
I'm near certain he was told what to write by his superiors, as a result of their many conversations.
So McCollum was simply recording what FDR's inner circle was saying amongst themselves.
That means: whether FDR himself saw the memo is irrelevant, since he was the one who effectively initiated it, and carried it out.
Further, according to Stinnett, all eight items were started, and nearly all accomplished before the Pearl Harbor attack.
And the result was just what McCollum predicted: Japan was lead to commit the first overt act of war, which created enough "ado" to bring the US into the war.
CougarGA7: "Three of the items on the list never happened, two were already policy, two were a logical extension of an existing policy and one happened late and clearly unrelated to any memo, but related to a shift in planning in the War Department."
In fact, according to Stinnett, all eight actions were started before Pearl Harbor.
I refer you to chapter 2, notes 7 through 11, on pages 321 to 322 of Stinnett's paperback.
CougarGA7: "So again, I don't see any proof here that FDR knew Pearl Harbor was going to get hit and allowed his fleet to get sunk."
McCollum's memo does not even suggest, much less prove, that Japan might attack Pearl Harbor.
What it does show is that top US officials were thinking of methods to provoke the Japanese into some kind overt act, which would create enough "ado" to justify a declaration of war.