In his book, "Day of Deceit: The Truth About FDR and Pearl Harbor," Robert
Stinnett, a Research Fellow at the Independent Institute in Oakland, writes
that on Nov. 25, 1941 Japan's Admiral Yamamoto sent a radio message to the
group of Japanese warships that would attack Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7. Naval
records, released a few years ago, prove (says Stinnett) that from Nov. 17
to 25 the United States Navy intercepted 83 messages that Yamamoto sent to
his carriers. Part of the Nov. 25 message read: "Šthe task force, keeping
its movements strictly secret and maintaining close guard against submarines
and aircraft, shall advance into Hawaiian waters, and upon the very opening
of hostilities shall attack the main force of the United States fleet in
Hawaii and deal it a mortal blowŠ"
Since World War II, there have been suspicions whether the Roosevelt
administration knew the attack was coming. But here's the interesting part
in light of the carpet bomb politics of today. Stinnett writes, "When Thomas
Dewey was running for president against Roosevelt in 1944 he found out about
America's ability to intercept Japan's radio messages, and thought this
knowledge would enable him to defeat the popular FDR. In the fall of that
year, Dewey planned a series of speeches charging FDR with foreknowledge of
the attack. Ultimately, Gen. George Marshall, then chairman of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff, persuaded Dewey not to make the speeches. Japan's naval
leaders did not realize America had cracked their codes, and Dewey's
speeches could have sacrificed America's code-breaking advantage. So, Dewey
said nothing, and in November FDR was elected president for the fourth
time."
When one considers contemporary politics, how many politicians come to mind
that would place the welfare of their country ahead of themselves? It
matters less which "side" is right in this Clinton vs. Bush debate than it
does whether Iraq can become a fully stabilized beachhead for democracy in
the region and terrorism can be dealt a mortal blow.
We can't afford to play the blame game now that we are in these wars. There
is no alternative to winning them.