Lawnmowerman

One thing that really annoys me about is that people say this proved that the Japanese couldn't compete against the Russians in a theatre of war.

I feel this is incorrect, an attack in 1942 would not be against Zhukov but probally some 5th rate commander, at this stage alot of the tanks and artillary which had proved so deadly against the Japanese would've been stripped and sent to the Eastern Front, Japan could also count on complete air superiority this time. (I don't believe the air force took apsrt in the actions at , but i could be wrong)

A Japanese attack on the Soviet far east, would not even have to be successfull, it would only have to tie up enough troops to prevent the Russians from reinforcig Stalingrad, and you are almost assured of the collapse of the Russian front(s)