Seanchan Vs. White Tower = attack on Pearl Harbor?

[Jasonm]

I didn't really notice it during my first read of tGS because I was just so into the events that it must not have occured to me. However, I just finished my 2nd read of the book and noticed that the attack on the White Tower by the Seanchan seems awfully reminiscent of the attack on Pearl Harbor during WWII.

 

Unfortunately I don't have my book with me today, but there was a quote by Tuon that ran along the same lines of "I think we have just awakened a sleeping giant." I was just curious if anyone else noticed this or would like to expand on it.

[Kaznen]

She was talking about Rand.

 

Rand thought the Seanchan were a nuisance that got in the way of dealing with TG. He offered them a truce so save himself the trouble of destroying them, the whole "Doing the trollocs' work for them" reason. Tuon said no because he wouldn't submit to her.

 

Fortuona isn't worried about the WT she thinks Rand will take it personally and decide the Seanchan are worth the trouble. She could also think the WT will join with the DR (although she seems to think the WT has always taken care of Rand) but he now has a reason to go for Seanchan blood. And the way he reacted to the news of Mat kidnapping (oh, Mat, what mischief have you been doing) and her husband's last words to her (that we saw) make her think if Rand go to war with her The Prince of Ravens will be on team Dragon.

 

And she was almost knocked off her feet when Mat gave his campaign strategy in KoD. He then proceeded to lay a swath of destruction in his wake, and He was out numbered over 100 to 1. No Seanchan general could have done what he did. And he'll be on the other side.

[A2597]

All this talk just really makes me want book 13 more.

 

But yes...no matter if it's White Tower, Dragon Reborn, or an alliance of Both...the Seanchan are in for it.

[TenLetters]

I can see the similarities, but there are also a lot of differences. The attack on Pearl Harbor brought America into the war against Japan(the people who attacked them) and Germany(their allies). But in Randland the Seanchan attack won't result in the WT destroying the Seanchan. Really the only similarities are a suprise raid on an unsuspecting victum, which is a common concept in war. The attack on Pearl Harbor is just the biggest instance of this stradagy.