Iran and Japan Share Eery Similarities...

If the EU and US succeed in cutting off the economic needs of Iran through their export and import of oil and oil products, it will be much like the reasons that pushed Japan into attacking American at Pearl Harbor. And Iran does in fact block the Straight of Hurmuz. Could history replay itself?

"A complex set of reasons, as is often the case with these seemingly straightforward historical questions. Basically, because those that made such decisions (the Japanese) decided, on balance, it was the best course of action in pursuit of their own objectives. Two principal reasons stand out though; oil and preemptive war:

1 - Japan needed oil to prosecute its war in Asia. The US had stopped providing oil but, if defeated, could be a good source of this vital resource.

2 - At the time of the attack, the US had come under persistent pressure (from the British and from many within political and military circles in the USA) to join the war. US supplies to Britain and its Commonwealth allies had increased steadily and there was no longer any pretext of US independence. In fact, the full participation of the US in the war on the side of Britain, its allies and its empire seemed increasingly likely and would have brought the US directly into conflict with Japan. Given this apparent inevitable war with the US, why not attack the US Pacific Fleet when they least expected it and while mostly at anchor in Pearl Harbor."

Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_did_the_Japanese_attack_Pearl_Harbor#ixzz1kd8CSeYX

It is an eery similarity, and it seems like an age-old method to force another nation into a world War.

What are your views of this, and all the saber rattling going on between the West and Iran? :type: