True, it's the people who ordered the attack. Those pilots were just doing what they were told. They were probably brainwashed

They might not have even known that the attack occured before they officially declared war on us.
In 'defence' of the Japanese 'powers that be/were', there was supposed to be a declaration delivered to the appropriate US representative, giving the 'unofficial' 30 minute 'warning'.
It was apparently 'held up' because, being a Sunday, there was no typist in the Japanese embassy and it was typed in 'single finger' fashion by a subordinate diplomat. Consequently, it was delivered while the attack was well under way.
Also, not to forget the reports of 'an inbound flight of 100+ aircraft' being 'shelved' by an inexperienced lieutenant, who didn't seem to take it seriously (that in itself was probably the 30 minute warning that the should have got). I'm told that his reasons were given as either lack of confidence in the ability of the operators (who were not very well trained in it's use) and also the lack of faith in the system itself (which apparently was poor).
All this aside, I think it's pretty much considered opinion by most historians, that the US was 'well aware' of an immediate threat of an attack. It's even understood that they were probably aware of the fact that the target was Hawaii (which obviously would mean Pearl). I think the only thing they didn't know, or have a very good suspicion of, was the exact time. ;D

Remeber, the Japanese were very surprised to find the Americans so unawares. That, plus the extremely dubious decision to bunch all the aircraft on the ground so they would be easier to guard against Japanese sabotage (rememebr that an attack wasn't expected, but an order came from somewhere to do this, and 'Japanese' sabotage was clearly given as the reason!).
Yes, it was a very well planned and executed raid, but the Japanese weren't responsible for the 'huge success' that it turned out to be (my opinion, of course).
P.S. I'll be the first to abhor the atrocities that are committed by anyone in any conflict, but given the above, I can't see the Pearl Harbour attack as the cowardly and 'infamous' act that it has (and still is sometimes) considerd to be. ;D
