Reply #42: Canuk and others in this thread have conveniently forgotten... [View All]

[Media_Lies_Daily]

...the tremendous amount of arms and supplies sent to the UK and other nations to include the old Soviet Union, well prior to the official entry of the United States into WWII in December 1941. In fact, U. S. participation in WWII began in September 1940 as follows:
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Unofficially, the U. S. had been shipping supplies and armaments to the UK and other countries well before the Lend Lease Act formalized the activity. For instance, on September 2, 1940, the U.S. transferred 50 destroyers to the UK in exchange for the use of certain military bases.

Destroyers for Bases Agreement, 2 September 1940
<http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq59-24.htm>

Excerpt:

"Furthermore, in view of the above and in view of the desire of the United States to acquire additional air and naval bases in the Caribbean and in British Guiana, and without endeavouring to place a monetary or commercial value upon the many tangible and intangible rights and properties involved, His Majesty's Government will make available to the United States for immediate establishment and use naval and air bases and facilities for entrance thereto and the operation and protection thereof, on the eastern side of the Bahamas, the southern coast of Jamaica, the western coast of St. Lucia, the west coast of Trinidad in the Gulf of Paria, in the island of Antigua and in British Guiana within fifty miles of Georgetown, in exchange for naval and military equipment and material which the United States Government will transfer to His Majesty's Government."

As to the actual ships transferred to the UK:

Destroyers Transferred to Great Britain as a Result of the Destroyers for Bases Agreement
<http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq59-24a.htm>
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The Lend Lease Act was officially begun in March 1941, nine months before the attack by Japan on Pearl Harbor.

Lend Lease Act, 11 March 1941
<http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq59-23.htm>

The Lend Lease Act allowed the U. S. to send arms and supplies to any nation involved in the war against the Axis Powers, Germany, Italy, and Japan.

World War II: Wartime Alliance
<http://www.ibiblio.org/expo/soviet.exhibit/wartime.html>

"Despite deep-seated mistrust and hostility between the Soviet Union and the Western democracies, Nazi Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941 created an instant alliance between the Soviets and the two greatest powers in what the Soviet leaders had long called the "imperialist camp": Britain and the United States. Three months after the invasion, the United States extended assistance to the Soviet Union through its Lend-Lease Act of March 1941. Before September 1941, trade between the United States and the Soviet Union had been conducted primarily through the Soviet Buying Commission in the United States."
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In summary, the U. S. was indeed participating in WWII at least fifteen months prior to the official date of the so-called timeline posted in this thread. Without the additional 50 destroyers needed desperately by the UK for convoy duty and other anti-submarine activities, the UK would have been in even more serious difficulties prior to the official entry of the U. S. in late 1941.

Why did the U. S. fail to make their support official by declaring war in September 1940, or earlier? The primary answer is that FDR was also fighting a tremendous amount of support for Nazi Germany among a number of the most elite families in the U. S. Among those elites were the names of Prescott Bush, Herbert Walker, Henry Ford, Joseph Kennedy, and others who were very prominent in their support of the Nazi government. That support for the Nazi government manifested itself in the resistance of Congress to make any move to declare war on the Axis Powers. A secondary obstacle was the desire of a majority of the American people to remain isolated from the affairs of Europe and Asia.

Something was needed to galvanize the support of the American people for war against Germany and Japan. That "something" came about with the attack on Pearl Harbor by Japan. A recent book which I have personally read and endorse, indicates that Pearl Harbor was not a surprise to U. S. Naval Intelligence or to the highest levels of the U. S. government:

Day of Deceit
<http://www.pearlharbor41.com/1.htm>

Excerpt:

"After decades of Freedom of Information Act requests, Robert B. Stinnett has gathered the long-hidden evidence that shatters every shibboleth of Pearl Harbor. It shows that not only was the attack expected, it was deliberately provoked through an eight-step program devised by the Navy. Whereas previous investigators have claimed that our government did not crack Japan's military codes before December 7, 1941, Stinnett offers cable after cable of decryptions. He proves that a Japanese spy on the island transmitted information--including a map of bombing targets--beginning on August 21, and that government intelligence knew all about it. He reveals that Admiral Kimmel was prevented from conducting a routine training exercise at the eleventh hour that would have uncovered the location of the oncoming Japanese fleet. And contrary to previous claims, he shows that the Japanese fleet did not maintain radio silence as it approached Hawaii. Its many coded cables were intercepted and decoded by American cryptographers in Stations on Hawaii and in Seattle."