Up until that point, Uncle Sam had been following a policy of isolationism , determined to stay neutral with regards to foreign wars. In the end, it took Imperial Japanese aircraft just one morning to convince U. Congress to vote on a declaration of war, something Winston Churchill had been trying to get them to do for over two years. Read more about: Hitler Was a third wave planned at Pearl Harbor?
Whilst Japan had hoped the surprise attack would demoralise American morale, the opposite was the case. But what if Japan had never attacked Pearl Harbor on that fateful day in December ? How different might the world look today? Here are two possible scenarios…. Before Pearl Harbor, there was widespread public opposition to joining the war. However, it could be argued that even without that catalytic moment, Japan and America were already on an unavoidable collision course.
For decades before the war, Japanese imperial ambitions saw the nation expand its influence politically and militarily to gain access to vital raw materials. This had led the country into a direct conflict with China. Read more about: WW2 Imperial Japan. In response, the U. Oil embargoes, a resource the Japanese relied heavily on from the U.
A deeply antagonistic relationship with Japan had developed in the s, since the invasion of China. The battleship was struck by several bombs including a direct hit that ignited the forward magazine, causing a huge explosion. Without such a shocking attack as Pearl Harbor, winning this support would be more difficult. It is extremely unlikely that a Japanese attack on the Philippines, Dutch East Indies or British-controlled parts of Southeast Asia could provoke the same reaction for revenge.
Yet FDR was committing support to the Allied forces and eager to persuade the isolationists that joining the war was essential to US interests, says Cribb. The chances are that the US would still have entered the war, but by a longer road. If that meant the war went on for longer, then Japan would have faced steadily greater difficulties in maintaining control of Southeast Asia, claims Cribb. The US responded with a host of economic restrictions.
With the two nations edging closer to war, Japan launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, the home of the US Pacific Fleet, on the morning of 7 December Within 90 minutes, more than 2, people were dead. Consequently, Adms. Spruance, Frank Jack Fletcher, and Chester Nimitz could afford to be venturesome with the battered fleet left to them after Pearl Harbor. Navy enjoys no such luxury. Washington infighting has left the U. Navy a force in decay. Midway was an aircraft carrier battle.
Most of the fighter jets that operate from their flight decks are grounded at present for want of maintenance. Each asset appears precious when you have so few. America, it seems, will go to war with the Navy it has — and might prove risk-averse about fighting it. As yet, though, little has happened on the shipbuilding front. No counterpart to the Two-Ocean Navy Act of is in the works. This makes for a pale imitation of the World War II buildup.
Midway was a damned close-run thing as it stood. Seventy-five years on — with a leaner U. Navy facing more formidable foes — a Pacific encounter could go another way altogether. Some introspection should quiet the chest-thumping about U. Taking competitors lightly is no way to prepare for serious strategic competition. Navy to handle the challenge.
China may remain the weaker antagonist in the Pacific, but look at the U. Japan had to slay a giant to prevail in the Pacific War. So Bismarck may have been correct.
Providence may smile on America. But dourer commentators such as yours truly might append a corollary to his wisecrack. Namely, that Providence helps those who help themselves. And the United States has done precious little to help itself in naval affairs. Midway represented a sensational triumph, and all honor to the warriors who brought it about. James R. Holmes is the J. Wylie chair of maritime strategy at the U. Maritime Strategy. The views voiced here are his alone.
Shusha was the key to the recent war between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
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