A Day That Will Live in Infamy

Remembering Pearl Harbor.





December 8, 1941

Yesterday, December 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.

The United States was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its Government and its Emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific. Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in Oahu, the Japanese Ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to the Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. While this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or armed attack.

It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time the Japanese Government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian Islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. Very many American lives have been lost. In addition American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.

Yesterday the Japanese Government also launched an attack against Malaya. Last night Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong. Last night Japanese forces attacked Guam. Last night Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands. Last night the Japanese attacked Wake Island. This morning the Japanese attacked Midway Island.

Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation.

As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense.

Always will we remember the character of the onslaught against us. No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.

I believe I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost but will make very certain that this form of treachery shall never endanger us again.

Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger.

With confidence in our armed forces - with the unbounded determination of our people - we will gain the inevitable triumph - so help us God.

I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December seventh, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empire."
-Franklin D. Roosevelt

So now we're whusses.

According to democratic leadership, that is. Over the past few weeks, John Murtha has said that the American Military is "hand-to-mouth" and struggling in Iraq. Now, CrazyDean is spewing that the "idea that we're going to win the war in Iraq is an idea which is just plain wrong," and "I've seen this before in my life. This is the same situation we had in Vietnam. Everybody then kept saying, 'just another year, just stay the course, we'll have a victory.' Well, we didn't have a victory, and this policy cost the lives of an additional 25,000 troops because we were too stubborn to recognize what was happening."
Yes, one of our own Congressmen, a decorated veteran thinks that the Mighty US military can't stand up to assasins and car-bombers. And the Democratic "leader" swears that we are in the middle of Viet-Nam. We need to have these guys examined. They are obviously dilusional to the point of insanity. If, however, they are sane...then charges need to be filed. Yes, I will allude to the "T" word. If telling the entire world that the terrorists are winning by doing exactly what they are doing, hence leading to the emboldenment of our enemies and defamation of our Men and Women in uniform isn't "aiding and abbedding" the enemy...I don't know what is.
What a shame it is that here in America, the single greatest country in the world, our very own representation can commit these treasonous acts...and not an eye is batted.
Funny, too that the Dems consider Viet Nam their heyday. I would be ashamed to think that that was the best I could do.
Let them hang themselves, though. McGovern tried the total anti-war pull out now stuff in '72...and failed miserably. While they may have assisted in ending the Viet-Nam war (in a rather shameful way, if you recall), people didn't like the anti-Americanism that they rallied around.
As more lunacy develops...I'll call them on it.

Netanyahu will invade Iran.

...Given the opportunity.
According to Jerusalem Newswire Benjyamin Netanyahu has announced that, if elected as PM of Israel, he will not hesitate to pre-emptively strike Iran citing that International Diplomats have reached the end of the road with Tehran. This makes him possibly the most aware individual in the civilized world.
I don't think that it should be considered pre-emptive for Israel to bomb Iran into submission, after all, at a conference in October under the banner “A World without Zionism,” Ahmadinejad said Israel is a “disgraceful blot” that should be “wiped off the map.”
That is just over the line for declaring your intentions for war. Neither does it sound like Tehran is paying ANY mind to US or European diplomats who're negotiating for Iran to cease their nuclear weapons ambitions.
Thinking back... The man whom Netanyahu most closely resembles policy-wise, Menachem Begin, didn't allow much to go on in the Middle East without his stamp of approval. Most areas were relatively stable, as nobody was trying to portray the Islamists as the victim.
Now, I'm off to achieve a self-induced challenge to find an example of international diplomacy where something meaningful was accomplished, and worked long-term.
Till then,
M. Sheldon