Pearl Harbor Day

Today is 65th anniversary of Pearl Harbor Day. I read in the news that the remaining survivors met today for what may be their last time.

I just received a call from my Mom, who is vacationing in Kauai. As you might imagine, Pearl Harbor Day is recognized in the Hawaiian Islands. Almost 500 survivors attended the commemoration of the surprise attack, including several Japanese aviators and navigators who placed wreaths on the USS Arizona Memorial. One Japanese pilot apologized for the surprise attack, and was ashamed that his government had not given the United States a declaration of war.

The day is still fresh for the victims, the few who are left after all these years. It is hopeful that many have reconciled with their Japanese attackers. Seen through the lens of the Iraq War, where will we stand in 62 years? How will Baghdad look? Will there be a democracy, theocracy, or dictatorship in power? The U.S. issued a declaration that we would attack, so this was not a surprise. However, it was an unecessary war, and perhaps 100,000 or more Iraqis have died, and we still do not know the reason for the war. I believe this war was for both oil and military industrial complex contracts, i.e. Halliburton and its subsidiaries.

What did the military do before Halliburton? Well, they cooked their own food and set up their own latrines. How did we fight World War II and rebuild Europe and Japan? We had contracts, however, it was considered treason to profit from the war. Senator Truman, before he became President, conducted an investigation into war profiteering that saved the government millions of dollars. No doubt, with the Democrats taking over Congress next month, investigations will be undertaken. Who pays the bill to these companies who are making BILLIONS from the war? U.S. citizens, their children, and perhaps grandchildren who will be paying for the war for decades to come.