[Lockbox]

I do not believe that the attack was a surprise to the leaders of the country. FDR had been pressuring the Japanese to force the issue, but in 1941 the population of the country was against war. So FDR needed something to change their minds.

1. The aircraft carriers were not in Pearl Harbor. After Billy Mitchell we learned the weakness of battleships and the value of aircraft carriers.

2. The Japanese Embassy was burning papers for a week before the attack.

[fso301]

I do not believe that the attack was a surprise to the leaders of the country.

Nope, but despite repeated war warnings being issued by Washington to Pacific commanders, war sure came as a surprise to Adm Kimmel.