Well, the Arabs no doubt would see it that way...it all depends what side of the barricades you're on, doesn't it? Everything is a mistake from the point of view of someone who doesn't like it.

As for me, I'm staying out of that particular squabble.

If you don't really watch carefully how you say things in a discussion like this it degenerates into a prizefight between various extremist positions...

Spud - That was a hell of an interesting story. I think war with the USA looked inevitable to people in Japan too, and they knew the USA had much greater resources at its disposal. So...they indulged in some wishful thinking, as people do when they've painted themselves into a corner, and went on the assumption that Americans had grown too soft and decadent to face a war with serious losses.

Ba-a-a-a-a-d assumption! Genda and Yamamoto were absolutely correct in their pessimistic assessment of the situation, but like all good loyal Japanese officers they did their utmost to follow orders once they were given.

- LH