Among the stupidest conspiracy theories in living memory, this one ranks about 3rd, maybe 4th.

1. 9-11 was an inside job. "Truthers"
2. Obama isn't a natural born citizen. "Birthers"
3. Roosevelt knew about the Pearl Harbor attack in advance.

The one that may bump it into 4th place is the Roswell Aliens.

You'll find with some investigation that "FDR was warned about Pearl Harbour" quickly goes from "conspiracy theory" to "historical fact". It started out as just a theory with some plausibility, but the evidence has piled up over the years.

The substantive arguments against this are;

1. This is a conspiracy theory, and therefore wrong, irrespective of evidence. Or "Conspiracy theory, therefore I won't bother to even check the facts - I know it's a priori wrong"

2. FDR knew an attack was coming, he just didn't know it would be precisely on Pearl Harbour, because his colleagues who did know for some reason didn't bother to inform him.

3. FDR knew an attack was coming on Pearl Harbour, but he didn't expect so many people would die, therefore we should gloss over this shady portion of history and isntead glorify the memory of FDR for his many accomplishments in expanding government power.

You'll find with some investigation that " Emperor Hirohito was warned about Hiroshima and Nagasaki " quickly goes from "conspiracy theory" to "historical fact". It started out as just a theory with some plausibility, but the evidence has piled up over the years.

The substantive arguments against this are;

1. This is a conspiracy theory, and therefore wrong, irrespective of evidence. Or "Conspiracy theory, therefore I won't bother to even check the facts - I know it's a priori wrong"

2. Hirohito knew an attack was coming, he just didn't know it would be precisely on Hiroshima and then Nagasaki, because his colleagues who did know for some reason didn't bother to inform him.

3. Hirohito knew an attack was coming on Hiroshima, but he didn't expect so many people would die, therefore we should gloss over this shady portion of history and isntead glorify the memory of the Emperor for his many accomplishments in expanding government power.

What piques my interest is the frequent attribution of the assailant's mindset on the attacked, by rightists. Their misallocation of Messiah-hood on any leader of "the left" betrays their own fundamentalist bent, which they assume exists in others.

Originally Posted by Lurch907

Among the stupidest conspiracy theories in living memory, this one ranks about 3rd, maybe 4th.

1. 9-11 was an inside job. "Truthers"
2. Obama isn't a natural born citizen. "Birthers"
3. Roosevelt knew about the Pearl Harbor attack in advance.

The one that may bump it into 4th place is the Roswell Aliens.

I'm not a subscriber to conspiracy theories, but unlike you, I do have the ability to read factual declassified documents.

Originally Posted by Winston Smith

You'll find with some investigation that " Emperor Hirohito was warned about Hiroshima and Nagasaki " quickly goes from "conspiracy theory" to "historical fact". It started out as just a theory with some plausibility, but the evidence has piled up over the years.

The substantive arguments against this are;

1. This is a conspiracy theory, and therefore wrong, irrespective of evidence. Or "Conspiracy theory, therefore I won't bother to even check the facts - I know it's a priori wrong"

2. Hirohito knew an attack was coming, he just didn't know it would be precisely on Hiroshima and then Nagasaki, because his colleagues who did know for some reason didn't bother to inform him.

3. Hirohito knew an attack was coming on Hiroshima, but he didn't expect so many people would die, therefore we should gloss over this shady portion of history and isntead glorify the memory of the Emperor for his many accomplishments in expanding government power.

Hirohito was warned about the grave consequences if Japan rejected the Potsdam Declaration.

Originally Posted by Potsdam Declaration

.....
(3) The result of the futile and senseless German resistance to the might of the aroused free peoples of the world stands forth in awful clarity as an example to the people of Japan. The might that now converges on Japan is immeasurably greater than that which, when applied to the resisting Nazis, necessarily laid waste to the lands, the industry and the method of life of the whole German people. The full application of our military power, backed by our resolve, will mean the inevitable and complete destruction of the Japanese armed forces and just as inevitably the utter devastation of the Japanese homeland. .......
(13) We call upon the government of Japan to proclaim now the unconditional surrender of all Japanese armed forces, and to provide proper and adequate assurances of their good faith in such action. The alternative for Japan is prompt and utter destruction.

Originally Posted by Lurch907

Among the stupidest conspiracy theories in living memory, this one ranks about 3rd, maybe 4th.

1. 9-11 was an inside job. "Truthers"
2. Obama isn't a natural born citizen. "Birthers"
3. Roosevelt knew about the Pearl Harbor attack in advance.

The one that may bump it into 4th place is the Roswell Aliens.

How about this one:

Climate change is a worldwide conspiracy of the Left to de-industrialise the Western nations.

"Chemtrails" is my new favorite.

How about instead of spinning conspiracy theories why don't we remember the sacrifice made on that day by brave American Sailors and Marines? Why must it always turn into a political bash fest with you people?

Why? Why? Why? Why!?

They didn't sacrifice themselves, they were sacrificed by the president, who'd rather kill thousands of americans than risk his popularity by declaring war directly.

Trying to paint roosevelt as the victim here is seriously demented and just goes to show how easy it is to delude the public with a lie repeated often enough.

Originally Posted by Symbiote

They didn't sacrifice themselves, they were sacrificed by the president, who'd rather kill thousands of americans than risk his popularity by declaring war directly.

Trying to paint roosevelt as the victim here is seriously demented and just goes to show how easy it is to delude the public with a lie repeated often enough.

They didn't sacrifice themselves? I know you hate anything that has to do with putting yourself in harms way without thought of self which I'm sure you are always so thoughtful of, but perchance maybe you would like to enlighten me as to how they were sacrificed when a tyrannical alliance cared not what our former crippled commander in chief thought!!

Or were the Japanese just "victims" as well in this ploy.....

Instead of remembering brave men died for their country you instead invoke discord and tarnish their memory... Shame.

Ignorant faux patriotism and racism do nothing to undermine the fact roosevelt knew.

All we're left with is the disgusting spectre of an authoritarian navy dropout who can't bear dealing with the facts about the man responsible for 2000 dead colleagues.

Do you apply the same non-logic to smear anyone who states Bush knew there were no WMD in Iraq? Or is it only your favourite presidents who get a free pass on lying the public into war.

Originally Posted by Symbiote

Ignorant faux patriotism and racism do nothing to undermine the fact roosevelt knew.

All we're left with is the disgusting spectre of an authoritarian navy dropout who can't bear dealing with the facts about the man responsible for 2000 dead colleagues.

Do you apply the same non-logic to smear anyone who states Bush knew there were no WMD in Iraq? Or is it only your favourite presidents who get a free pass on lying the public into war.

Ooh big words from a cynical conspiracy nut.. A drop out? Sorry my dd214 says HONORABLE discharge so you can suck it...

And also FDR was NOT responsible for Pearl. Have you not read the reports? The midget submarine that was sunk and failed to be reported? Or of the radar technicians assuming the zero's that were attacking were just US warplanes part of a training mission?

Fact is, you will use ANY and I mean ANY event in history that has to do with war or conflict and turn it on its head to feed your head about your anti violence and anti military garbage and expect others to sit here and go along with it...

And Bush did not know there were no WMD's in Iraq dingbat. Even MI6 and Russian intel got it wrong.....

Oh and also we did land on the moon.....

Yeah the two times roosevelt didn't find out about the attack prove he never knew. Just like the two times you didn't sleep with a man prove you're not gay.

Trying to equate admitting roosevelt's role in pearl harbour with being anti military is pathetic, even for you, especially as roosevelt used military officers as scapegoats to blame for the "surprise attack".