General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Mr. Kerry, Is THAT Really You? [View all]mzteris
(16,232 posts)Don't tell me you bought the party line?
The US and Russia were "allies", too, during the war. But were we really allies, or fighting a common enemy. Big difference.
And I was referring to our machinating the entry in the EUROPEAN war. That the Japanese were "allies" - well, they were fighting a common enemy, but I'd hardly consider them friends or working in close coordination. Or were Hitler and the Emperor holding regular chitchats of which we know nothing about. One was a sociopathic meglomaniac, and the other thought he was god incarnate on earth. I don't think they would have played well together in close communion. Hitler would never have considered the Japanese as anything resembling an "equal". And the feeling was probably mutual. The "common cause"? Complete and total control over "their territory" and joining forces (so to speak) against the US/England, etc.) (I've always wondered what would have happened had they both succeeded. Would each have left the other alone? Or would Hitler kept going to take over the world.)
US business interests made quite a bit off of the war before we 'entered' it. The policies of Wilson vs FDR and the actions of the various Congressional representatives played heavily on US action/ inaction (that and public opinion AND business interests). We were very much "involved" in it prior to PH, though we had fired no "shots" - except of the financial kind. The actions of Roosevelt were pretty provocative if you think about it.
You might want to read Howard Zinn, People's History, although he discounts the theory that Roosevelt "knew" about Pearl Harbor before it happened. Although we certainly behaved in such a way as to goad the Japanese into some sort of action. (And we didn't seem to care all that much about all that bombing of others that went on before 12/7). http://www.historyisaweapon.com/defcon1/zinnpeopleswar.html
And this: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/general-article/fdr-foreign/