I know that these are simply the memories of who must be a very old man, but that sentence stands out. Just what the hell did he--and other Japanese warriors--think was going to happen? Did he think that the United States would shrug it off with some comment as, "Well, that's OK. You destroyed our Pacific Fleet, but that's alright. We didn't need those ships, aircraft, and most importantly, servicemen anyway."
I think lots of people in imperial Japan, and also in Nazi Germany, knew only an America of movies and newsreels and thought the USA was full of decadent hedonists who could not be troubled to defend their freedom. To the extent many in the Japanese military thought about the prospects for war with the US, they thought (1) they could whip us, and (2) we'd lack any staying power. They thought we were a nation of Sean Penns and Howard Deans and Ted Kennedys before those three ever appeared on the national stage. Fortunately, in times of trial a much better sort of American rises to the fore.....
Sorry OldPossum, but do you mean like the liberals have been doing since after 9-11?
he wrote that in 1970....
The average Japanese pilot was heavily indoctrinated and very culturally isolated. Even the Japanese High Command was under the belief that if they could cripple the American Fleet (including Aircraft Carriers) that the USA would sue for Peace.
Would a Korean Soldier worry about the geopolitical ramifications of his action in shooting South Korean Soldiers?