MacArthur explained years later. The Japanese had attacked the United States. As far as he knew, they had not yet attacked the Philippines.II He had “not the slightest doubt” they soon would. But he also knew, as he later put it, “[that] great local hope existed that this would not be the case.” If it appeared that American rather than Japanese forces had taken the first step toward involving the Philippines in a war that MacArthur recognized would inflict a fearful toll upon the islands, he would risk what he had always considered the centerpiece of his defense strategy: the support of the
...more
