WW II in the Pacific was decided w/in the space of 1/2 hour @ the Battle of Midway.
I get your point, but had the US lost its entire Pacific fleet at Midway, we would still have won the war.
Would have taken longer, but would have made no difference in the outcome.
On December 8, 1941 Churchill celebrated the defeat of the Axis. On that day it was all over but the shouting.
Which is not to say that the eventual victory was not due to the valor and sacrifice of a great many good men. Only that Allied victory was certain unless the US were to abandon the war.
The Pacific War was decided on 12-7-41.
When Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, there would only be one outcome; the only uncertainty was how long it would take.
Yamamoto knew before the ships even sailed that Japan would lose the war.