Punch on: Open thread 07/12/10

Reg says:

06:56am | 07/12/10

Eric your times and dates are slightly but importantly wrong. The application of fuel sanctions was in mid-1941, about the same time as Germany decided to attack Russia. The Japanese plan had been to move South to solve all it’s problems, hoping the US fleet would strike in the West and have been destroyed my overwhelming Japanese air power. The declining fuel supplies and the possibility that the US fleet may not react, was the reason for the change of plans. Namely, to attack the fleet in harbor. The story is complicated even more by the fact that the Russians had defeated the Japanese in Manchuria so they had no desire what-ever to be dragged into a war with Russia by their connections with the German aggression.

To add to the complication of dates, notice that the war started on the 8th which was EARLIER—- yes, earlier… than it started at Pearl Harbor on the 7th.

The Americans were, as usual too slow to react and the Japanese had taken particular notice of the highly successful British raid on the Italian fleet in Taranto Harbour. It makes me wonder about their present day reaction time. Is it now too fast or still too slow. Your friend Bob Menzies had the same problem you’ll recall.

Tedd says:

07:09am | 07/12/10

Yes, I have seen a comment that the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour was one of the most justifiable act of aggression ever. 

Japan had been ‘moving’ for a few decades to influence or overtake a China weakened in the 1800s to early 1900s by indifferent British imperialism, and had a few skirmishes with the Russians over it.

Harbour defences around Albany, Western Australia were built as a result of Russia’s invasion of Afghanistan in the 1870s (yes, the mid-late 19th century).  History repeats, eh?

Reg says:

02:34pm | 07/12/10

Tedd how could you possibly say that? Japanese expansionist policies had their origin in the thrashing they administered to the Russian fleet at Port Arthur in 1905???

Sure the US had it’s Manifest Destiny that meant everyone in the world was fair game under the authority of some whacky god given right, the same one as the Crowned heads of Europe had until they had the sh*t beaten out of them. This includes England.  The Japanese projected the great South East Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere, which meant something like freeing all the slaves of European Countries like England, Holland, France, Germany, US, Australia but strangely also the Philippines and the Chinese with the Koreans thrown in for good measure. Their goal was conquest supported by cruelty to demonstrate their resolve and discourage resistance.

In summary, the US was overconfident and unready not to mention too late with just about everything. MacArthur was not up to the task in the Philippines and his pomposity was allowed to continue in Australia, crowned by a deviation into the Philippines to save his image at the cost of thousands of lives. Manila would probably suffered much less if MacArthur had bypassed it as the original plan required. Allow me to suggest that the Battle of the Philippine Sea was the largest sea battle ever fought and totally unnecessary.

Tedd says:

04:30pm | 07/12/10

Reg, my point about Japan & China around the late 1800s-ealy1900s was a separate point about Russian expansion in the 1970s influencing Australia establishing coastal defences such as those in southern West Australia.  I did not mention Port Arthur, so why did you? Go to Albany and read the history.

Tedd says:

07:28pm | 07/12/10

correction ... Russian expansion in the *1870s* influencing Australia ...

acotrel says:

09:29am | 07/12/10

Parky likes cricket, and he always says good things about Australia.  Perhaps he should be designated an honorary Australian? Realistically, if he had been transported here on a convict ship, he’d have been a real Australian!

BobbyDan says:

02:00pm | 07/12/10

At least Parky would be easier to listen to than Julier and her pommy effected nasal ranting from the counties.

Reg says:

02:47pm | 07/12/10

You do mean affected don’t you BobbyDan?

If anything It might have been more logical to suggest it was an Australian affected twang like all the Aussie and NZ movie stars try and project.

Sorry, just 20 words does not warrant a “ranting” a “nasal” or a “counties.”  OUT!  mnI…..

BobbyDan says:

10:18pm | 07/12/10

@ Reg, if you want to be pedantic about my spelling well Hello/Good bye to you.
Ms. PM has not got the presentation skills of Parky or most of the Greeks I know. And she would stand out in my old location of RAAF Laverton and the Bowling Club @ Altona in the then County of Werribee.

TimB says:

09:25am | 07/12/10

You truly are an idiot.

When has Bolt ever expressed any belief in 9/11 conspiracy theories?

Honestly you need to get over this irrational hatred thing you have going on. It isn’t healthy.

MarK says:

09:30am | 07/12/10

Yes because BoltA is a firm believer that America attacked itself on 9/11.

There are lots….err..a few articles by him…..sorry let me see 1 I have heard of….oh dammit NOTHING to suggest that.

I love how you take a date, concoct a non sequitur to try and belittle someone you claim you don’t read anyway. The mind boggles at teh contortions you go through to make a null argument.

MarK says:  09:27am | 30/11/10
“No private home will EVER need a gigabit.”

“The hardware alone to handle that bandwidth is not readily available in Harvey Norman you know?”

James1 says:

10:00am | 07/12/10

Indeed, TimB and MarK.  Mr Bolt only believes in conspiracy theories involving the left of politics.

MarK says:

11:55am | 07/12/10

Do tell us James….elaborate please.

James1 says:

12:03pm | 07/12/10

Most of them seem to revolve around destroying Australian culture through multiculturalism and political correctness and the economy through making an effort to reduce climate change as a part of some vast left wing conspiracy. 

While I understand the sentiment, I think Bolt is wrong because the lefties in question are just as well intentioned as their opposite number.  They just lack workable ideas that are, you know, good.

AdamC says:

01:17pm | 07/12/10

James1, I don’t think Andrew Bolt argues that there is some sort of left-wing conspiracy to wreck the country. His argument is more along the lines that political correctness and group-think within istitutions leads to a toxically misguided ‘conventional wisdom’ that in turn leads to bad decisions and outcomes.

Or, in other words, lefties aren’t evil, but they are wrong.

MarK says:

02:41pm | 07/12/10

AdamC has it.

You are confusing opinion and “conspiracy theory”. Pointing out a contradiction doesn’t imply conspiracy, it merely raises a concern or point to note. Making a statement based on belief or evidence doesn’t mean you are paranoid.

James1 says:

03:10pm | 07/12/10

Maybe I am biased because I hate the way Bolt argues, as Colbert would have it, “from the gut”, rather than from the brain.  Every time I read his stuff, it just seems so far fetched - like Philip Adams in reverse.

Lefties are wrong though.  Well-meaning, but incorrect.

The Badger says:

03:29pm | 07/12/10

but
MarK says: 

“No private home will EVER need a gigabit.”
“The hardware alone to handle that bandwidth is not readily available in Harvey Norman you know?”

Are these the opinions of someone informed?

MarK says:

04:10pm | 07/12/10

Yes it is.

Badger please explain what technology used in the home needs a gig of bandwidth.

Than k you

jane wallace says:

06:39pm | 07/12/10

Tim B is always pessimistic about himself, other people and the world.
Tim B knows nothing about anything or anyone.
Tim B was educated by the Sunday Mirror.
Nicole G and Tim B are the only teo liberal Voters left amongst youth.
TIM B and Nicole G ought to marry each other at once.

TimB says:

10:14pm | 07/12/10

I…

uh…

Whut?

There are no words. There really aren’t.

nosthow says:

08:29pm | 07/12/10

@MarK - spoken just like your leader does Marky - you know Tony the Wrecker !  Oh yeah !

TheRealDave says:

10:19am | 08/12/10

I hit 82 and went to bed at 1:30am - how did you go??

late for work this morning….