ON December 7, 1941 without a declaration of war, Japanese war planes bombed Pearl Harbour. The strategic United States Naval Base in Hawaii, where they inflicted serious damage on the US Navy's Pacific Fleet.
So how could Japan have the confidence to attack the United States even then the world's greatest economic and industrial nation?
The fact was in that 1941 the United States was not a great military power.
Its small Army numbering around 1,500 was short of equipment. Its Air Force was also small, numbering around 1,500 aircraft. Its Navy, although large - around 350 war ships- was mostly obsolescent.
For example, all of its 15 battleships and many of its destroyers were of World War One origin.
Now in 2004 the United States is by far the world's greatest military power. And will not hesitate to use that power if it feels threatened.
No protest or criticism from United Nations chiefs is going to make the slightest difference to US foreign policy. No doubt US politicians and public still remember Pearl Harbour.
JOHN PORTER, Thwaites Road, Oswaldtwistle.
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