The date that would live in infamy!

Tuesday – December 7, 2010

The date that would live in infamy!

On December 7th, 1941 : Japan launched a surprise dawn attack using midget submarines, 350 bombers and torpedo carrying planes targeting warships, aircraft and military installations on the American naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii and declared war on Britain and the United States. The attack destroyed two battleships, one minelayer, and two destroyers with the loss of more than 2,300 US servicemen. The President, Franklin D Roosevelt, mobilized all forces and was poised to declare war on Japan. The next day, when the president addressed Congress and the nation, he swore that America would never forget December 7, 1941, as a "date that would live in infamy." With neutrality ended, some 950 tanks were sent to Britain together with food, trucks, guns and ammunition.

1941 The war in Europe continued to dominate world affairs, but a new threat was growing, which would soon involve America, as the Japanese caused a threat in Asia and the Pacific so preparations for war continued. The British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, addressed the joint session of Congress asking for help in the form of arms. The US still continued, as normal, with 2 great movies produced that year that would stand the test of time, "Citizen Kane" and "Dumbo". After many years where parents had decided what teenagers wore, a new revolution was happening where teenagers became fashion conscious, also drive in movies and drive in fast food were growing in popularity.

December 7th, 1977: All Soviet consulates and educational centers were ordered to be shut down by Egypt’s Prime Minister, Mamdouth Salem. The Soviets and four other ousted European nations were accused of interfering with Egyptian-Israeli peace negotiations.

December 7th, 1987: Mikhail Gorbachev arrives in the United States for an arms control summit with Ronald Reagan. The summit resulted in one of the most significant arms control agreements of the Cold War. Reagan and Gorbachev signed off on the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Force (INF) Treaty, which called for the elimination of all ground cruise and ballistic missiles and launchers in Europe with ranges of 320 to 3,400 miles.

December 7th, 2001: The Taliban regime gives up its stronghold in Kandahar, after only 61 days of war in Afghanistan. US planes have been bombing the area since the beginning of the war. Taliban fighters have been laying down their arms.

December 7th, 2002: Iraq assures the United Nations it does now have weapons of mass destruction in a declaration to the UN.

Yesterday, I quoted Captain James L. Holloway III. He said an attack on Pearl Harbor on the scale of December 7th, 1941 was unlikely. He remarked, “Since World War II, we have been at war more than we have not been at war…”

If you look at all the events that have happened on December 7th, since World War II, you would see that the Captain was right. In each date of history that I have singled out you would see that the enemies of the United States have been a threat in military terms and now in economic terms.

If you look back at these events, you would see how inaction and action caused these events to occur. In 1977, Egypt wanted peace with Israel and found a way to do it alone. In 1987, Mikhail Gorbachev knew that the U.S. was more valuable as a friend than an enemy. In 2001, our action of eradicating the Taliban worked. But as history would remind us it was not a permanent fix. On December 7 a one time ally, now turned enemy, said his country, Iraq, does not possess any chemical weapons. However, all the world’s intelligence forces said they did. We must also remember Saddam did use chemical weapons to kill the Kurds.

Today, on December 7th we are still at war. Our military is actively pursuing our enemies around the world. Our enemies are at our borders and there is now the reality of high tech terrorism from a website owner. Today, on December 7th our economy still remains sluggish. Unemployment is now at 9.8 % and has not been lower than 9.6% for 19 months. Today, on December 7th Ben Bernanke, the Fed Chief, said unemployment would be at the same levels we see today for the next four or five years. Today, on December 7th our new congressional members of the GOP are being called terrorists by the outgoing Democrats who controlled Congress.

Today, on December 7th we give honor to those that perished by the surprise attack in Hawaii of our enemy. Today, on December 7th we give honor to those that have a grave at sea in Hawaii, because of an attack. Today, we realize that a sleeping giant had woke up to the reality of its enemy.

Today, on December 7th a former enemy now owns much of our debt and now controls a significant piece of the American industrial and manufacturing markets, in automobiles, electronics and in intellectual capital. They have done this with a strategic plan to succeed in the areas that they know had made us great.

Today, on December 7th take a walk back in history to view what America was like in the days of her innocence.

Gregory C. Dildilian
Founder and Executive Director
Pinecone Conservatives

A footnote: in review of the history of 1941 you will begin to see why December 7th would be the date that lived infamy.

These are the things that occurred in 1941 that led to our involvement in World War II. The war in Europe continues to escalate with countries joining on one side or the other. Large numbers of civilian casualties on both sides are happening due to the use of aerial bombing.
· UK: In the North Atlantic, the German battleship Bismarck sinks the HMS Hood on May24th killing all but three crew man on what was the pride of the Royal Navy. Fairey Swordfish aircraft from the carrier HMS Ark Royal fatally cripple the German battleship Bismarck in torpedo attacks. The attack that follows by Navy Warships sinks the Bismarck.
· Russia: Germany attacks the Soviet Union on October 11th and then begins an all out offensive of Moscow.
· UK: The HMS Ark Royal is torpedoed by a German U-boat
· Russia: German Aircraft sink a Russian Hospital Ship killing 7,000.
· Russia: Germany gets within 50 miles of Kiev in Russia.
· Greece: Nazis take and occupy Athens in Greece.
· U.S.: The United Service Organizations (USO) begins operations providing coffee, donuts, and entertainment to US military forces.
· U.S.: The Mt. Rushmore sculpture featuring US Presidents is completed by Gutzon Borglum.
· Yugoslavia: Germany invades Yugoslavia.
· U.S.: Hitler and Mussolini announce they are at war with America who retaliates with its own declaration of war.
· U.S.: Japanese Navy launches a surprise attack consisting of two full regiments on the United States fleet at Pearl Harbor, thus drawing the United States into World War II.
· U.S.: A bill creates the fourth Thursday in November as Thanksgiving Day.
· U.S. “Willy's Jeep Introduced for use by the US Army.
· Scotland: Rudolf Hess parachuted into Scotland on a peace mission and is captured by British forces.
· U.S.: U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt is inaugurated for his 3rd term as US President.
· U.S.: U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the Lend Lease Act providing military aid to the Allies
· UK: Churchill launches the "V for Victory" campaign across Europe.
· UK: Enigma Code Is Broken.
· U.S.: U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the GI-bill to provide financial aid to veterans returning from World War II.
· U.S.: Winston Churchill addresses a joint meeting of the United States Congress about War in Europe.
· Russia: Germany Begins the Siege of Leningrad which lasts until 1944.
· U.S.: United Stated officially declares war on Japan