FDR had an oil embargo on the Japanese as a result of Japanese aggression throughout Asia. Relations with Japan were strained. Japan engaged in a sneak attack on Pearl Harbor and a bit later the Philippines, both of which were highly successful. The US did not know in advance of these attacks, although if radar was interpreted correctly, we might have gained a few minutes notice, but that would not likely have done any good. Of course, the attacks on the Philippines should have been anticipated in light of what happened at Pearl.
Was FDR trying to goad Japan? We will never know. He confided in nobody, not even Henry Hopkins about what was going on in his head. I think he was trying to embargo Japan economically and knew there was some risk of war, which was probably a bit distant. The Navy’s precautions were for war, but they were proven to be the wrong thing to do by events.
There was no “Hirohito likely to attack US targets with carrier based planes next month” memo, so by conservative standards, who let Bush off completely with “Bin Ladin determined to attack US with hijacked planes next month” (or whatever), the conservatives can finally shut up with their conspiracy theories. But they won’t.