Was Pearl Harbour Attack Known B 4 hand?

[barbaro]

Lots of testimony and articles about this topic.

Was the surprise attack on Dec. 7, 1941 known about by at least some people in the U.S. military and goverNment?

Allowing the U.S. to to declare war against Japan? (Germany later declared.)

WWII was the defining period, that allowed the U.S. to become a world superpower.

Note that war with the Japanese may have been probable before hand,

But the question remains the same:

1. Did they know?

2. Did they let it happen on puropose (L.I.H.O.P.)

[Mr Earl]

Not having lived during that time I'd postulate that perhaps it was allowed to happen through arrogance, neglect and miscommunication.
When we cut off oil to Japan it was inevitable.

Much like Alqueada had threatenned a 9/11 type attack years before it happenned. Did the US beef up airport security? No!
But in reality how do you do something about an event which hasn't happenned yet.

The short answer is no I don't think FDR or anyone else in the US gov. was complicit in the Pearl Habour attack.
Instead of cutting off thier oil maybe a nice little sit down chit chat about their invasion of china would have been more appropriate.

[Wallace]

There was an interesting documentary around a few years ago. It suggested that the Americans actually goaded the Japanese by sinking a submarine somewhere in the Pacific. The programme alleged that this was the first strike in this particular conflict, and the Japanese just retaliated.

I am not an expert in this field, but perhaps others are aware of this story.

[keda]

Read somewhere that it was no coincidence the USN had their best stuff out at sea and little of note in port, much like leaving a bit of money in the safe to satisfy burglars.

[barbaro]

Read somewhere that it was no coincidence the USN had their best stuff out at sea and little of note in port....

This is true.

[sabang]

The British had cracked the Japanese code some time before Pearl Harbour, and the listening station in Hong Kong was regularly monitoring Japanese communications.
According to one theory, Churchill was informed of the Pearl Harbour attack almost 24 hours before it occurred. He chose not to inform Roosevelt because he knew this would draw America into the war. Or he did inform Roosevelt, who chose to keep it quiet so he could get a recalcitrant US Congress and public to back entry into the war.
Both could be dismissed as wild speculation, bar one thing. The British government has never released transcripts of military and diplomatic communications for this short period before Pearl Harbour and likely never will, as they have been classified under the Official Secrets Act.

[keda]

If they're never going to release it then why keep the evidence?

[thaibook]

He chose not to inform Roosevelt because he knew this would draw America into the war.

There are some papers that Churchill wrote to Roosevelt nearly begging him to enter the war - or in the least lend them certain nessesary military gear if not personnel. So, therefore Churchill wanted nothing more than for the USA to enter the war.

Also, imagine the sheer amount of threats, warnings, etc. that a government on the scale of the USA must receive - daily. It is nearly impossible to take heed of every threat/warning received no matter the amount of people employed in the gov't.