[SAMWolf]

Good post Light speed.

The Japanese were able to pretty much run rampant over the Pacific for about six months after Pearl Harbor, until the US stopped them cold at Midway. It was our stands at Bataan, Wake and other places that put crimps in their plans. Once again we we underestimated by an enemy.

Their plans were to grab as much as they could as fast as they could, set up a "perimeter" and then make it so costly to take back that we'd negotiate an agreement. They forgot that Americans were always willing to "pay the price".

It infuriates me to think that if the events of WWII happened the same way today, that there are those would would be willing to give up and let the Japanese keep their gains. And these people are in our Congress, and State Legislatures and City governments.

The rivalry between the IJN and the Army definately worked to our advantage on occasions. Resources needed were held back because of this rivalry, and at times the Japanese were pushed into operations by one service that the other wasn't ready or willing to support.

[Light Speed]

Hi Sam

Was reflecting some on History today concerning North Africa in the 1880's.

Great Britian had achieved gains and relationship with diverse Islamic nations..then the Black Flags of the Mahdi appeared...the routing of armies..the massacre at Har'toom

Al Harb...*House of War...the machination of Islam towards the infidel.

The nation rulers of Islam entwined themselves with the British..yet the Spirit of Al Harb grew up from places of little regard and cost Great Britian and free peoples dearly.

From the seen attitude of the Palestinian..to the schemeing masses beneath the feet of dishonst rulers such as Bashar of Damascus..Musarraf of Pakistan...Pharaoh of Egypt.

The paralell is there...the landscape would probably irk an Englishman of the 1880's....he might say.."Black Flags of the Mahdi for sure in your time">

If this is not enough to manage....then their is the schemeing designs of the Court of Heaven in Bejing....and the Kings of Europe..and their pride.

How much darkness will arrise in our time to test the souls of man?

I'm cautious..the landscape has a brooding thing beneath its surface.