GHG,
I lean the way you’re speaking too. I don’t believe the axis and allies community is going to get a supreme court ruling by LH. I see the points other people make in how they interpret the language of the rule book.
But I see your point too. I guess it really depends upon your definition of “is.” (Anyone out there get my reference there?)
Technically if you’re on SZ 26, you’re not “within” 2 sea zones of sea zone 10, but your still “within” a travel distance of 2 spaces to sea zone 10. I think the intent of the rule was too keep Japan back far enough to where they couldn’t move 2 spaces and land troops on western US. SZ 26 would fall into that category.
No one has argued or made a point of even why the rule was even written in the first place SINCE it actually doesn’t stop Japan and block them like the way that the US is restricted in the Atlantic. It seems to me that a loophole exists which wasn’t intended to exist. I think someone else agreed at least that this is a loophole (which means to me to be against the spirit of the game).
Now back to realism for a brief moment. The actual Japanese Pearl Harbor attack was a well planned, executed, sneak attack. The US Commanders in Hawaii didn’t know there was imminent attack coming towards them in Hawaii…there was definitely intel of an imminent attack, but where was not known. The Japanese just showed up early morning and launched their planes. Many thought the imminent attack was the Philippines, (which by the way along with the UK forces in Singapore, was attacked right away after Pearl Harbor.) Again, US Commanders (and probably most other nations) wouldn’t let a huge fleet with troop transports remain within striking distance without taking significant “war-like” measures for self-defense. They might not fire the “first shot,” in a large scale battle, but that would just be a formality.
Ichabod