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Sea And Air First Strategic Frame
- The Pacific War was fundamentally a sea and air war, not a land-first conflict like in Europe.
- Reframe the campaign around naval and air power to better understand strategy and outcomes.
Japan’s Strategic Bet On Europe
- Japan's 1941 decision was a strategic gamble hinging on German success in Europe and a stable Soviet front.
- A German collapse on the Eastern Front might have changed Japan's prospects, but such a collapse did not occur.
Oil As The Immediate Catalyst
- Oil shortages drove Japan's expansion and directly precipitated decisions like Pearl Harbor.
- The US oil embargo started a ticking clock that forced Japan to choose between diplomacy or seizure of resources.