The Japanese hurt the Chinese, Russians, Australians and the Philippines before our armed forces were deployed after war was declared. (They were even accused of killing Amelia Earhart and her navigator!!) Our AVF pilots were holding Japanese forces in check before things got out of hand, but America was not ready–or willing–to engage in foreign conflicts, particularly after we were told that WWI was the “War to End All Wars”. Even Charles Lindbergh would join a chorus of Non-Interventionists to preach sovereignty and restraint as Americans were increasingly plied with bellicose media and official presentations. It’s quite easy for those lawyers in congress to express their bellicosity and resolve toward foreign conflicts when their butts aren’t on the line for combat deployments.
Of course, because the USAF is planning only having KC-46s and F-35s. And the F-35 is only good for about 8 hours per week. 
What I am trying to figure out is how they are going to lose all these pilots without also losing boomers and aircraft???