Posted on 12/07/2004 9:51:20 AM PST by doug from upland
Franklin D. Roosevelt's Infamy Speech
December 8, 1941 Yesterday, December 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.
The United States was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its Government and its Emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific. Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in Oahu, the Japanese Ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to the Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. While this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or armed attack.
It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time the Japanese Government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.
The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian Islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. Very many American lives have been lost. In addition American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.
Yesterday the Japanese Government also launched an attack against Malaya. Last night Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong. Last night Japanese forces attacked Guam. Last night Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands. Last night the Japanese attacked Wake Island. This morning the Japanese attacked Midway Island.
Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation.
As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense.
Always will we remember the character of the onslaught against us. No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.
I believe I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost but will make very certain that this form of treachery shall never endanger us again.
Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger.
With confidence in our armed forces - with the unbounded determination of our people - we will gain the inevitable triumph - so help us God.
I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December seventh, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empire."
I'm surprised that Japanese Ambassador wasn't killed.
I'm sure he was really happy with his Government's timing.
My dad and his best friend had just finished developing the infrared bombsight in his living room when news of the attack on Pearl Harbor came over the radio.
I remember Pearl Harbor ~ I was eleven years old when I heard the news on the radio that it had been bombed.
Had Japan not attacked Pearl Harbor I bet they could have invaded Australia.
That was one hell of a speech. I still get chills when they play the whole thing on tv.
In fact, the japanese ambassador was directed to deliver the message half an hour before the attack began. He calculated the time wrong.
The nature of the attack against us was not delineated in the japanese diplomatic messages. US forces in Hawaii were warned, but expected sabotage. That is why the Army Air Corps planes were lined up wingtip to wingtip, so they could be guarded with fewer people.
The US was reading the Japanese diplomatic code throughout the war. It was a major source of information on damage to Germany from our bombing offensive.
At the end of the war, we knew the Japanese strategy was to defend their home islands. They were wiling to lose 30 million to cause 1 million US casualties. After Hiroshima, the US read their assessment: Since it was a Uranium bomb, it was an unrepeatable catastrophe, because of the difficulty the US would have separating Uranium 235 from U-238 very quickly. The assessment after Nagasaki was different: Plutonium was easily separated from Uranium, and manufactured from U238, which was relatively plentiful. There was no limit to the number of Nagasaki type bombs.
The Soviet Union entered the war against Japan, further invalidating the basis upon which Japanese strategy rested.
The emperor directed his government pursue peace.
That was the reason why
In fact, the japanese ambassador was directed to deliver the message half an hour before the attack began. He calculated the time wrong.
The nature of the attack against us was not delineated in the japanese diplomatic messages. US forces in Hawaii were warned, but expected sabotage. That is why the Army Air Corps planes were lined up wingtip to wingtip, so they could be guarded with fewer people.
The US was reading the Japanese diplomatic code throughout the war. It was a major source of information on damage to Germany from our bombing offensive.
At the end of the war, we knew the Japanese strategy was to defend their home islands. They were wiling to lose 30 million to cause 1 million US casualties. After Hiroshima, the US read their assessment: Since it was a Uranium bomb, it was an unrepeatable catastrophe, because of the difficulty the US would have separating Uranium 235 from U-238 very quickly. The assessment after Nagasaki was different: Plutonium was easily separated from Uranium, and manufactured from U238, which was relatively plentiful. There was no limit to the number of Nagasaki type bombs.
The Soviet Union entered the war against Japan, further invalidating the basis upon which Japanese strategy rested.
The emperor directed his government pursue peace.
That was the reason why
uh oh..FDR makes reference to the Almighty. I guess this declaration of war statement, a momentous event in human history can't be taught in Public schools.
Thanks for posting.
Cordell Hull made his famous quote “Cowards and pissants!” upon finally recieving Japan's 'tardy' war declaration.
Writing the speech probably took as long as the Japanese took in planning the attack, considering the fact that Roosevelt ran on a peace platform while plotting and planning how to incite an enemy attack to arouse U.S. support for involvement in the war.
The U.S. helped win the war - for Roosevelt's pal - "Uncle Joe Stalin"- a lunatic every bit as dangerous and murderous as Hitler and Tojo.
We won the war - the Commies won the peace - thanks to Commie symapthisers like FDR, Alger Hiss et al.
Since Roosevelt was a Demcrat, he wears only laurels for the attack on his watch, while the Dems heap calumney on Bush for an even more unanticipate attack on American civilians at the beginning of his term.
Well, its clear to me that we deserved to be bombed. Afterall, we were sucking up the world's resources and imposing our way of life on the rest of the world. At any rate, if we had not threatened Japan and left it alone, it would not have attacked us. Japan posed no threat. (BUMP, BANG!!!) Ouch. . .sorry, had a modern leftist/Michael Moore/Democrat moment there for a second.
FDR was not only a traitor but probably the worst President in our history as far as doing damage to the Republic is concerned.
There were five days of infamy regarding FDR. This one, plus the four times the idiotic socialist Americans elected him. We have never recovered from the damage.
Your'e right. Addionally, I'd like to point out that Rooselvelt should have organized an international coalition of nations to apprehend and prosecute the PILOTS of the planes that attacked Pearl Harbor. It was incredibly unjust to hold the entire nation of Japan accountable for the actions of a few zealots.
But Rooselvelt was probably just motivated by racial hatred. Ultimately, I think he was simply after Japan's oil.
/sarcasm off. :)
BTTT
Dalereed and Huck,
Have you guys read the "Roosevelt Myth"? I think we should be handing out copies of it to set the record straight about one of the most undeservedly glorified presidents in our history.
It's free online at:
http://www.rooseveltmyth.com/book/hbzfrm.htm
Tell your friends about it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.