alternatehistory.com

This is from another thread in this section, from Obsessed Nuker:

"USN planners had actually considered the possibility of an attack on Pearl. They discounted it for two reasons. The first, because they (incorrectly) assumed it would have to be done with battleships, and they calculated such a raid would be far too dangerous for the Japanese. The second, because they (correctly) assumed that an attack on Hawaii would rile the American populace and ensure a long war that Japan would know she could never win. USN planners continually worried about their ability to sustain the will of the American people in the long war they were planning. They assumed the Japanese would not be stupid enough to solve this, their plan's greatest weakness, for them."

I'm curious how this plays out. The Japanese decide to attack the Dutch and British colonies, but avoid the Philippines (the forces earmarked IOTL are on standby in case the USA does intervene) and of course does not do the Pearl Harbor raid.

My guess that this works better for the Japanese but they still lose in the end, but I'm curious about the details.

My guess is that FDR gets the USA into the war sometime in 1942, but its against Germany and the declaration of war is against Germany. He persuades Congress to include some German allies, such as Italy and Japan.

The Americans and British decide to defeat Germany first, and they go after the Japanese with massive force.

However, by the time this happens you get war weariness and more importantly, the Cold War is starting up. The USSR either joins in or actually backs (in secret at first) the Japanese. This could turn into the first of those never ending Cold War conflicts between the US and Asian powers.
Top