Why Remember Pearl Harbor?
With global expectations mounting for a fresh start in US foreign policy, it is vital not just to remember, but to understand the attack on Pearl Harbor. While diplomacy no longer works with terrorism, Japan's surprise attack 67 years ago shows that diplomacy can help to prevent it by dealing carefully with hostile states, particularly by strengthening moderate forces within them.
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NEW YORK – December 7 marks the 67th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Over the years, “the day of infamy” has become a classic reference point for galvanizing patriotic sentiment in America. In the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack, for example, analogies to Pearl Harbor were made frequently. But despite its central place in America’s collective memory, Pearl Harbor remains little understood. Why did Japan initiate such a seemingly self-destructive war in the first place? Aside from lessons that Japan must learn from its momentous decision, is there something to be learned by the United States as well?