[AIC]

From what I understand of history, Germany declared war on the U.S. after Pearl Harbor because they were allied with Japan. The U.S. then had to declare war on Germany at the same time as we did Japan.
If Pearl Harbor had not happened, it might have still been a toss up as to whether the U.S. would have gone to war with Germany.

[Charles Henrickson]

Frank defended his point, however, claiming that Republicans didn't see Hitler as a threat to America until Pearl Harbor. He repeated the Democratic criticism of America's invasion of Iraq. Saddam Hussein "was a horrible (sic), a dictator, a butcher, a tyrant, a mass murderer -- as evil as they come," Frank said, but he added: "I don't think he was a threat to the U.S. at the time."

Doesn't Thomas Frank see the inconsistencies in his logic? Try to follow this:

WWII was OK, and horrible mass murderer Hitler was a threat, even though he had not directly attacked the United States.

Iraq is not OK, and horrible mass murderer Saddam was not a threat, because he had not directly attacked the United States.