[wideawake]

The War Department was well aware of what was going on in terms of Japan's intentions and mobilization: they were simply more prepared for an attack on the Philippines than on Hawaii.

The attack on Hawaii was a truly bold, innovative stroke by the Japanese and not an obvious move.

[Sherman Logan]

The War Department was well aware of what was going on in terms of Japan's intentions and mobilization: they were simply more prepared for an attack on the Philippines than on Hawaii.

Right. That is, of course, why the defense of the Philippines was so successful when attacked by a smaller Japanese force. And why essentially the entire American air force in the islands was destroyed on the ground half a day after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

MacArthur was a very interesting guy. But his defense of the Philippines was not a high point of his career.

The attack on Hawaii was a truly bold, innovative stroke by the Japanese and not an obvious move.

True. But not even considering it as a possibility was a huge failure of American imagination. Probably largely attributable to racist notions of Oriental inferiority.

IOW, the classic error of underestimating the enemy, usually caused by too high an opinion of yourself.