&gt; <i>By &quot;out of their depth&quot; do we mean &quot;dumber than six pounds of gravel&quot;?</i><p>There&#x27;s no excuse for the Japanese militarists&#x27; infliction of millions of deaths and untold suffering, but please keep in mind that they were doing the best they knew how at the time with the hand they were dealt (genetics, education, training, experience, social pressures, etc.), in a situation with enormous risks for their nation, which they believed to be on their shoulders.  I&#x27;m curious what if anything you know of such pressures.