First off the role of the government in that attack. The US new it was coming and did nothing. He wanted a reason for the US to join the war. He needed a way to convince the US people we needed to get involved.

Quote Originally Posted by Buddy Sanders View Post
First role of government:

To protect and defend it's citizens (in the Preamble: to prepare for the common defense).

Regardless of how the 'day' itself turned out, the Imperial Japaneese Navy's attack on Pearl Harbor was the seminal event in making the United States the dominant world power for a couple of generations.

While it was a brutal defeat, I always look back at it with pride for how our people, both military and civilian, responded to the adversity.

And, while the atomic attacks were certainly horrible events to endure, it's not something we should regret. They saved hundreds of thousands of lives, most of them Japaneese.

'Remember Pearl Harbor' was a rallying cry that drove a nation to win a war.

Remembering the attack on Pearl Harbor is something that our adversaries should do as well.

The power and abilities of the American Public when it's united behind a common goal is unparalleled in human history. Hopefully, we won't ever have to prove it again.

Buddy