The Fronts in this World War

7/23/2004 | Lifetrek

[LifeTrek]

Amazingly even after the attack on Pearl Harbor people failed to realize that we had been brought into a WORLD WAR. Unfortunately there are still those out there that fail to understand that this has happened again (including the amazing Mr. Kerry who feels the term war is too harsh.)

Was it part of the war on Japan to invade Africa? How can people with a straight face try to separate Iraq from the overall war?

The War on Terror involves many fronts, the most prominent of which are: - The Economic Homefront - the 9/11 attacks cost the US nearly 1 trillion. The agressive action by the administration turned the recession around (see Alan Greenspan comments 7/21/2004 for confirmation). - Afganistan - the agressive action by the administration has liberated millions and disrupted terrorist command and control (see the 9/11 report.) - Iraq - the agressive action by the administration has liberated millions and made the US safer (see the 9/11 commission report) as well as caused a vaccuum drawing many terrorists in to fight on our terms rather then on our soil. - Reformation of our traditional alliances, trusting those who share our interests rather then those who would rather sell out for their oil vouchers. - Continious strengthing of our homeland security.

DKK

[LifeTrek]

Then there is the clandestine front that we will probably never hear about. People wonder why Tenant was allowed to stay as long as he did - my reply, there are probably many victories that we will never know about.
DKK

[gcruse]

Amazingly even after the attack on Pearl Harbor people failed to realize that we had been brought into a WORLD WAR.

"Amazing" events require at least a cite, one would think.  Got one?

When you consider that Italy and Germany declared war on the US on December 11, 1941, if anyone was unaware of the global nature of the war, they weren't unaware for more than a few days.

[LifeTrek]

Here you go - sound very close to some in today's anti-war movements. Same conspiracy ideas even.

I should have been a bit more specific and indicated that only some - or a few people had their heads in the sand, but that is the same as today as well.

This was, by the way, before Germany declared war, but after the attacks:

Elected with a small plurality, Jeannette Rankin arrived in Washington in January as one of six women in the House, two in the Senate. When, after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the U.S. Congress voted to declare war against Japan, Jeannette Rankin once again voted "no" to war. She also, once again, violated long tradition and spoke before her roll call vote, this time saying "As a woman I can't go to war, and I refuse to send anyone else" as she voted alone against the war resolution. She was denounced by the press and her colleagues, and barely escaped an angry mob. She believed that Roosevelt had deliberately provoked the attack on Pearl Harbor. See: http://womenshistory.about.com/library/bio/blbio_jeannette_rankin.htm

DKK

[gcruse]

She believed that Roosevelt had deliberately provoked the attack on Pearl Harbor.

By trying to isolate and shut down Japan's ability to get vital resources, a case could be made for that.  More damningly, though...

Thomas Dewey (Republican candidate for President in 1944) tried to turn it into a campaign issue; he and several Republican senators claimed that "certain Japanese codes before Pearl Harbor" had been cracked, and that FDR "knew what was happening before Pearl Harbor, and instead of being re-elected he ought to be impeached."

[LifeTrek]

Your right, and many codes were discovered, weather there was an actual awareness of the upcoming attack is still unknown.

FDR often told his Cabinet, prior to December 7, 1941, that we were at war and that he wanted them to behave as such. The provocation was designed to push the Japanese to the edge or over in an attempt to slow or stop the atrocities that were being raged on China and to slow their agressive spread through the Pacific.

That doesn't mean we weren't already embroiled in a World War.
DKK