UK journalists are projecting their stupidity onto Americans. Nothing new there. But what I wonder is why the Japanese were so stupid that they could convince themselves that getting into a war with the US was a good idea.
Both Japanese and Americans underestimated each other. Americans didn't believe Japanese could be good pilots because they had bad eyesight (from the slanty eyes), and that they were small, bucktoothed midgets....
The Japanese thought Americans were morally and mentally weak , and would only be brave just to show off, and cared more for staying alive than risking their lives to fight for their country. The war planners in Tokyo really thought they'd make America cower in a corner because they were attacked, and we'd sue for peace.
Needless to say, both sides were in for a rude awakening.