December 7, 1941 is a day that all Americans should recognize. Early that morning Japanese bombers launched one of two attacks on the Hawaiian base Pearl Harbor. This attack came as a surprise to the people, first as a shock, which soon turned to anger. By the 11th, when the Axis powers declared war on the U.S., the decision was almost unanimous to "defeat the dictators". More than sixty years have passed since that day, but the truth about what happened is still a mystery. Admiral Husband E. Kimmel and General Walter Short are assumed to blame for this surprise attack, but some claim President Franklin D. Roosevelt is responsible. The president called this day "a date which will live in infamy", while retired journalist Robert B. Stinnett titles his book " Day of Deceit: The Truth about FDR and Pearl Harbor" in which he argues that Admiral Kimmel was "gravely wronged".
English: United States President Franklin D. Roose...
The USS Arizona (BB-39) burning after the Japanese...
Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 1933. Lietuvių: Frankl...There is a great possibility that the U.S. had known about the Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbor prior to the attack, but kept it confidential in order to have the people's support to go to war.
Some people believe that Admiral Kimmel and General Short were charged and tried for the responsibility of Pearl Harbor being caught off-guard. However, these two were never officially tried in a court. What actually happened was that the admiral and general were "relieved of their commands" early in the year of 1942, and then put on the retired list after what is called the Roberts Commission, which wasn't really a "trial" but an investigation where the two were not permitted legal counsel. Justice Roberts and some others were appointed by Secretary of War, Stimson to investigate on the issue regarding Admiral Kimmel and General Short's responsibility in the attack. Admiral Kimmel...