[Nedusa]

Originally Posted by lostalex

I don't think power was as centralized back then as you think it was. It was a fundamental racist Japanese philosophy against outsiders which led to their brutality. It was a racist ideology which they held in their hearts. It was not just a few brutal Japanese leaders forcing people do do what they did, it was a fundamental belief system.

You are trying to make it sound like superiors were standing over them forcing the Japanese people and soldiers to act brutally. It was the fundamental ideology of the Japanese people that was evil, not just the leadership.

There can be no storm without the rain.

Yes .........agree with this the Japanese seemed to revel in the inhuman way they treated allied POW, justifying it by saying these servicemen should not have allowed themselves to be captured alive therefore they are subhuman and worthy of any/all tortures that are then inflicted on them.

and Boy...!!! did the Japanese enjoy revelling in these tortures...sure they did !!!... so I think the contention that they have an evil streak hard wired into their collective DNA is well justified....!!!!