• @CriticalResist8A
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      63 years ago

      It’s not readily apparent when looking at a map of the US, because they just add Hawaii and Alaska in the corners which makes them look closer than they really are, but Hawaii is about halfway between Japan and the USA – perhaps a bit closer to the US than Japan though.

      Which means that a) the USA had no business being there in the first place of course (there’s a legal argument they are actually occupying Hawaii and as such under the Geneva convention the laws of the occupied country should apply, not US law) and b) it’s a great jumpoff point towards Asia.

    • Free PalestineA
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      53 years ago

      It’s a great jumping point into Asia’s sphere of influence, from the naval bases on the island chain the US can access pretty much all of east Asia and the island nations around there. When McKinley said this, it was more theoretical than anything. But it was proven in WWII, when Hawai’i was used as a base of operations for the Marines and the navy in the war against Japan.

      Ironically, Japan saw Hawai’i as a great jumping point into North America, which is the provided reason for their attack on the island chain.

      Modernly NATO has Japan, South Korea, HK, and a few other places that they can launch attacks or imperialist missions into Asia’s sphere of influence from, but Hawai’i is still used as a launching point for the navy. If you join the American navy to work on ships of war, you’re very likely going to end up in Hawai’i at some point in your career.

    • @vis4valentine@lemmy.ml
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      fedilink
      33 years ago

      They needed an strategic base in the Pacific to our troops and military arsenal ready to deploy when needed in east Asia countries. Hawaii have been useful for the US many times against Japan, Vietnam, Korea, and of course, china.