Michelle Malkin argues that the internment of Japanese during World War II was no act of mass hysteria or racism but rather a justified act of defense and national security during a very troubled time. She does point out that before the attack on Hawaii, Tokyo were trying to recruit Japanese-American spies in the western states and that not all Japanese were loyal Americans. Even so, 112,000 people, many of whom were U.S. citizens and loyal Americans, were placed in camps scattered throughout the west. Moreover, no Hawaiian Japanese were ever interned and major military figures such as Gen. Mark Clark and Admiral Howard Stark were against internment, as was J. Edgar Hoover.
“Malkin denies that the internment occurred because of war paranoia and racial fear. But she considers none of the evidence,” Bruce Ramsey, a Seattle Times editorial writer notes, especially the anti-Japanese prejudice that spread throughout the West Coast long before and soon after Pearl Harbor. He says that Malkin’s thesis is unjustifiable and concludes: “There are extraordinary times when liberty has to be compromised. This book is a reminder that some people are far too easily persuaded that the time has come.”
Seattle Times, September 19, 2004