Saturday, May 28, 2005

Looking Back at the War with Japan.

PBS' "American Experience" recently discussed the history of the last year of war in the Pacific Theatre ("Victory in the Pacific"). It was, surprisingly, balanced. It refuted revisionist claims that the last year of the Pacific war was unnecessary, that American blood-lust, desire for revenge, or anti-Soviet maneuvering prevented a chance for a satisfactory peace between Japan and the Allies. It described in detail the fanatical strategy of Ketsu-Go, the defense of the Japanese homeland by mass suicide attacks. It also dispelled the myth that there was any serious challenge within the Japanese war leadership to Ketsu-Go (there was opposition, but it had no real chance of reversing this tragic policy). It is this point that most revisionist histories of the Pacific War either omit or dismiss. The documentary came to the same conclusion as Truman: that the atomic bombing of both Hiroshima and Nagasaki was necessary to conclude the war as quickly as possible, that Bushido and Japan's war culture were as pernious to global peace as Nazism and to destroy them would require a complete unconditional surrender by Japan.

Unfortunately, such an honest analysis of the Pacific War is about 25 years too late.
Bring it On.

In the last week we've learned that the Dems' declaration of "unacceptable...radical...extremist" judicial nominations was just milquetoast: a judge previously regarded as a troglodyte can suddenly be acceptable for a lifetime federal appointment by a 82-18 majority in the Senate. Provided a certain senator can get the satisfaction of political payback. Now the Dems are threatening fillbuster on the Bolton UN appointment. Well, go ahead...make our day. Go right ahead and paralyze the Senate's ability to get the people's business done for the sake of rejecting an appointment that reasonable people - even those in your own party - find acceptable. You go right ahead and become the "Party of Nyet". No ideas for Social Security and Medicare reform, no ideas on the WOT, no ideas for UN reform, no ideas for a realistic energy policy, no ideas on education, no ideas on stopping illegal immigration...just no, no, no.
With Profound Gratitude We Remember.

If at all possible, please take the time to attend a Memorial Day parade and ceremony this weekend. If you meet a vet on the street, shake his hand and say thanks. Include in your daily and Sunday prayers the men and women now in harm's way. Find a service-related charity and give some time or money to help the families of those who serve. These efforts are trivial compared to the sacrifice of life, limb, family, or prosperity that our soldiers have made to serve our country and protect our liberty, and to give the same to other peoples around the globe.