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To: BroJoeK
What is in question is whether FDR, Marshall & all, knew more than their warning implied.

Back in the days of pre-Obama America, it did not take the sinking of an entire line of battleships to have the U.S. whipped into a war fever.

Back in those days, all it took was the bombardment of a fort flying the U.S. flag that did not result in a single casualty during the battle (Fort Sumter) or the belief that a country intended to sink a single U.S. battleship (USS Maine).

If FDR had known of the attack but wanted to guarantee a war by keeping quiet about the intended attack, the battleships would have been on maneuvers with the carriers and FAR away from the action while a near empty Pearl Harbor and the airfields suffered the brunt of the attack.

As it was, the USS Enterprise was so close to Pearl Harbor at the time that it lost some aircraft. The consequences would have been disastrous if Japanese aircraft had spotted the course of these U.S. carrier aircraft, followed it and found the U.S. carrier.

Report of Action with Japanese at Oahu on December 7, 1941. --- SCOUTING SQUADRON SIX - U.S.S. ENTERPRISE

Whether minor damage or catastrophic damage to the Pacific Fleet had occurred, the headlines the next morning would still have been, "JAP SNEAK ATTACK ON PEAR HARBOR!" and the U.S. would still have been at war with Japan to the bitter end.

If FDR wanted war, there was no need to lose the battleships and risk nearly losing a carrier to get the U.S. whipped into a war fever.

66 posted on 09/11/2008 5:23:20 PM PDT by Polybius
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To: Polybius
"If FDR wanted war, there was no need to lose the battleships and risk nearly losing a carrier to get the U.S. whipped into a war fever."

What exactly are you trying to suggest here?

During the election of 1940, FDR promised over and over again:

"I have said this before, but I shall say it again and again and again; your boys are not going to be sent into any foreign wars."

At the same time, he confided to aides that an attack on the US would make it no longer a "foreign war."

During early 1941 there were several attacks by German U-boats on US ships, including the Robin Moore, Greer, Kearny, Salinas and most famously, the Reuben James.

Each time, FDR made fiery speeches against Germany, and each time Congress and the US public ignored him. Americans seriously wanted no part of that "foreign war."

So, it seems that many people do not understand what was going on in the US, and worldwide, at that time. That's leading to some pretty strange conclusions.

I'd suggest crack a book or two. Learn something about our history.

69 posted on 09/12/2008 4:00:55 AM PDT by BroJoeK (A little historical perspective....)
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To: Polybius
"If FDR wanted war, there was no need to lose the battleships and risk nearly losing a carrier to get the U.S. whipped into a war fever."

I'll say again, there is NO EVIDENCE to suggest that FDR knew PRECISELY what was going to happen on December 7, 1941. There is evidence suggesting he knew more, and could have provided a clearer warning to the Pearl Harbor commanders, than he did.

77 posted on 09/12/2008 8:12:16 AM PDT by BroJoeK (A little historical perspective....)
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