Thus Spake the War-Mongers

"Completely embargo all U.S. trade with Japan, in collaboration with a similar embargo imposed by the British empire.......If by these means Japan could be led to commit an overt act of war, so much the better." Lt. Commander Arthur McCollum of Naval Intelligence............."There will never be so good a time to stop the shipment of oil to Japan as we have now.......There might develop from an embargoing of oil such a situation as would make it, not only possible but easy, to get into this war in an effective way. And if we should thus indirectly be brought in, we would avoid criticism that we had gone in as an ally of communistic Russia." Harold Ickes, Secretary of the Interior............."We face the delicate question of the diplomatic fencing to be done so as to be sure that Japan is put into the wrong and makes the first bad move - overt move. The question was how should we MANEUVER THEM (emphasis mine) into the position of firing the first shot." Harry Stimson, Secretary of War............."I came away with the impression that, despite his spoken word, the President was fully determined to put the U.S. into the war if Great Britain could hold out until he was re-elected." Admiral J.O. Richardson.............How much more obvious could it possibly be that FDR a) wanted a war with Japan (as early as 1933 according to the diaries if some of his aids) and b) was pretty much willing to do anything to instigate one? I mean, do you need a tape of his confessional or something? My God.............................................................................................................P.S. And, no, FDR is hardly the only President who has "maneuvered " us into a war (Polk, Lincoln, McKinley, TR, Truman, LBJ, Bush 1, Bush 2 being some of the others). That I will readily admit.