Contrary to Tom Hanks' comments, the real racism was borne almost entirely by the Japanese. They considered every other race as inferior. Americans, especially were considered weak and inferior because of Japanese press depictions of American life. Their three-axis alliance was one of economic convenience, since they had nothing in common with the Germans and Italians; neither philosophically nor racially. The Japanese believed the Germans and Italians would keep the British, Dutch, and French occupied until they could seize the Dutch East Indies, French Indochina, and British Singapore and other asian holdings.

The civilian government was nothing but a shill for the military powers in Japan. Prime minister Konoye and his government stood mute while the army invaded Manchuria, raped and sacked Nanking, and began planning their move south into Indochina and the East Indies.

Propaganda always takes hold at the outset of war. World War II was no different than World War I (look at how German soldiers were portrayed by the Allies). Propaganda is how the home front and the troops' morale is raised to keep the fight going.

Yes, Nisei were put into camps. It was wrong then. You can thank California governor Earl Warren for urging FDR to do it. J. Edgar Hoover actually argued against interning the Nisei. The FBI knew where the real threat was, and the Nisei weren't it. However, the Nisei reflected an perceptive image that was hated. Perception is everything.

The problem we have today, is looking at the events of World War II in terms of today's technology and knowledge. Even in the 1930's, the United States knew relatively little about foreign culture. The United States attention was diverted inward (read Great Depression). Foreign policy was not top priority. And if one thinks the U.S. was ignorant, the rest of the world was even more so. Adolph Hitler never traveled outside Germany or Austria until he visited Paris after it fell in World War II.

Remember too, that the Japanese overran Chinese who weren't united under a central government. The Chinese lords did not trust Chiang Kai Shek, regardless Sun Tzu's accomplishments.

The Japanese were in a unique position. The Germans invaded Russia, and the Japanese could keep the allies guessing as to whether they would invade Vladivostok, or head south. The allies, although they had decrypted the Japanese ambassadorial codes, still didn't know what the Japanese army and navy were doing.

The Japanese had no intention of stopping their conquests until they had gained everything they needed to keep their nation growing.

I've watched every episode. It's very good, but it lacks the continuity of B.O.B. so it appears to be slower moving and choppy IMO. Not to say thats bad the Pacific campaigns lends to that.

I haven't been as impressed with this as I was with band of brothers. Perhaps it's the amount of time they're spending on stuff happening outside of duty, which I find remarkably dull.

Okay having re-watched the episodes (because I DVR'd them) from start to finish in order, my opinion is.............................................

Pacific sucks no where near as good as BOB.

Has anyone seen the latest Peleliu episodes, they're pretty freakin intense! I think the show is starting to really pick up momentum. I won't say it's as good as BOB, it's just different.

Episode six was the best no doubt. But it's still not a continual flow like BOB

Originally Posted by brinktk

Has anyone seen the latest Peleliu episodes, they're pretty freakin intense! I think the show is starting to really pick up momentum. I won't say it's as good as BOB, it's just different.

That's a pretty fair comment I reckon, BoB set a benchmark, that I doubt will ever be achieved again, but, the first two eps that have screened downunder, haven't been bad at all........................ Of all parts of the screening, I most enjoy hearing the actual marines speaking to the camera about their experiences & seeing the documentary footage........ I had an uncle who served alongside Americans in the pacific, he was with a RAAF unit, rebuilding airfields and stuff like that......... Every now & again, he'd tell us some of the things that he saw during his service.............. The japs he hated the most were snipers........ It's the one story he told that stuck with me all these years..... My uncle, some other men, a Salvation Army officer and an American officer were not far from the treeline and the area came under sniper fire, the American officer was hit and while my uncle and another man pulled him to cover, the Salvation Army officer saw where the sniper was, picked up the Americans' weapon and shot the enemy soldier out of the tree............

While some respects of the marketing down here has shat me a little (the fault of the TV network which is showing it in Oz, nothing to do with the production itself I'd wager), the show is actually really good. Enjoying it immensely.

It's very different from BoB, but I think that's to be expected. You can actually take an Airborne unit from the ETO and follow it through without having every character you might form an attachment to arbitrarily slaughtered in the first battle or two. I'm not sure such an approach would be theatrically possible if an accurate portrayal of some of those Pacific battles is the go; I think they did the right thing by just focussing on Basilone, Leckie and Sledge.

I approve.

Originally Posted by Botak

While some respects of the marketing down here has shat me a little (the fault of the TV network which is showing it in Oz, nothing to do with the production itself I'd wager), the show is actually really good. Enjoying it immensely.

It's very different from BoB, but I think that's to be expected. You can actually take an Airborne unit from the ETO and follow it through without having every character you might form an attachment to arbitrarily slaughtered in the first battle or two. I'm not sure such an approach would be theatrically possible if an accurate portrayal of some of those Pacific battles is the go; I think they did the right thing by just focussing on Basilone, Leckie and Sledge.

I approve.

I think you are absolutely right in that respect.

I wanted to watch that so bad, but we just canceled hbo at my place so i missed it, put i read reviews on it in leatherneck magazine and seen pics, it looked awsome!!!! Band of Brothers was great so i cant wait to see the pacific too.