Anchorage, invasion, and American political shock

The Alaska option required fewer carriers and could include troops because the territory was thinly defended and lacked the wartime Alaska Highway. Its dispersed, armed population might form irregular resistance, but poor internal communications would make an immediate organised response difficult. Beyond military damage, an occupation near Anchorage would challenge public confidence in federal defence spending. The embarrassment would invite arguments over what taxpayers had received for the money already spent on national security. The resulting political infighting, especially near midterm elections, might have complicated American direction of the war.