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The book I refer to is the latest (to my knowledge) on the Pearl Harbor issue, is "Day of Deceit" (I cannot recall the author at this remove). This book is based upon classified files released via the FOIA. The author demonstrates that the issues surrounding Pearl Harbor were a lot more convoluted than the current history suggests.

What cemented the matter for me vis a vis Roosevelt is the fact that in spite of everything, Kimmel had the fleet out, and was sent back to Pearl.

My theory is that Roosevelt wanted to provoke the attack so that we could get into the war, but underestimated the ability of yhe Japanese fleet. This may be why Stark was sent to England as liason after the attack (in exile) for the balance of the war.

Regards,

....."Day of Deceit" (I cannot recall the author at this remove).

The author is Robert B. Stinnett.

Here's an essay by him published on the anniversary of PH from two years ago.

I'm amazed that some still refuse to accept the truth.

What cemented the matter for me vis a vis Roosevelt is the fact that in spite of everything, Kimmel had the fleet out, and was sent back to Pearl.

My theory is that Roosevelt wanted to provoke the attack so that we could get into the war, but underestimated the ability of yhe Japanese fleet. This may be why Stark was sent to England as liason after the attack (in exile) for the balance of the war.

I agree with you, and Toland fills in this picture very effectively by recounting how FDR was simultaneously baiting the Japanese force tasked against Malaya by sending out sailing yachts armed with deck guns and MG's to "observe" the Japanese fleet's progress at close quarters, knowing full well that any such force would be tempted to fire on any foreign naval vessel that tried to fall in with, or shadow, their formations.

A German U-boat captain's war memoir also recalls how, during the summer of 1941, while U.S. destroyers were escorting British convoys near American waters (and depth-charging any U-boats they encountered, which was what the USS Reuben James was doing immediately before she was notoriously torpedoed), President Roosevelt sent the USS Texas, unescorted in any form or fashion, on a visit to Great Britain. It took a direct order from Adolf Hitler, backed up by a promise of execution for overeager U-boat captains, to keep the Texas from being intercepted and sunk.

Roosevelt did a lot of underhanded things like that.

But Doris Kearns Goodwin loves him.

Oh, wait. Doris Kearns Goodwin is a plagiarizer.

<Mr. Rogers voice > Okay, kids, what have we learned today about Liberals?

</Fred Rogers>