In some ways -- from an Arab perspective -- the Dolittle Raid can be seen as a prototype of the 911/WTC attacks. The Arabs -- and third worlders in general -- always see themselves as under real or covert attacks from Western economic/cultural interests. They say they feel provoked. The 911/WTC attack, while accomplishing little or nothing of strategic importance and killing civilians, served as a "morale boost" for the disenfranchise all around the world. (Of course, we were at war with the Japanese at the time. However, any number of terrorist groups, especially Arab groups, have openly declared "war" against the "Great Satan" in the press, so they can say they were just conducting a campaign...)
Killing vast numbers of civilians for a morale boost is a pretty disgusting way to run a war. Sorry, I know a lot of people disagree about this, but whether it's bin Laden (or whomever) committing 9/11 to boost their morale, or the Doolittle Raid to boost our morale, it's just not a type of fighting I'd ever engage in or vote for. (Not to mention that what goes around comes around. We did it to Japan, now the Arabs it seems have done it to us...)
Mark W.
But I'm not a soldier, so there may be a ton of stuff I'm just not aware of... Mark W. 4 posted on 4/18/02 10:19 AM Eastern by MarkWar
We were at war at the time . Aren't you missing your anti American rally in Washington?