Handout . / Reuters The USS Arizona sinks in Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. Former House speaker Newt Gingrich noted Japanese "brilliance" in planning the attacks on Pearl Harbor and elsewhere in the Pacific.

Newt Gingrich fired off an unusual series of tweets in commemoration of Pearl Harbor Day in which he noted Japan’s “professional brilliance” in carrying out the surprise attack.

While many marked Wednesday’s 75th anniversary by remembering the more than 2,300 U.S. servicemen killed in battle on Dec. 7, 1941, Gingrich took a different approach.

Here are the tweets:

December 7 is a good day to remember that the world is dangerous and shattering surprise is possible even when we have been warned. — Newt Gingrich (@newtgingrich) December 7, 2016

75 years ago the Japanese displayed professional brilliance and technological power launching surprises from Hawaii to the Philippines — Newt Gingrich (@newtgingrich) December 7, 2016

Japanese planning and trainng let them also carry out surprise attacks in Hong Kong and Malaysia.It was widest surprise attack in history — Newt Gingrich (@newtgingrich) December 7, 2016

Gingrich, who has co-authored two novels based on the events surrounding the attack, drew sharp replies on Twitter:

Did you just praise Japan for the Pearl Harbor attacks? @newtgingrich — The Notorious T.I.M (@BionicBombshell) December 7, 2016

@newtgingrich 9/11 was also a surprise attack. Can we expect you to praise a few terrorists in September next year? — Corey D. Willis (@coreydwillis) December 7, 2016

@newtgingrich Jesus Christ, if Obama tweeted this Republicans would be losing their shit. — nonya (@nonyabusiness2) December 7, 2016

@newtgingrich I really can't believe this. Walk us all through your thought process on typing this out and then pressing send on a Dec. 7th. — Mike Emerick (@mikeemerick) December 7, 2016

@newtgingrich wonder how long it will be before you delete this. Is praise for al qaeda next? What a disgrace — Danny Keystone (@DannyKeystone) December 7, 2016

@newtgingrich 15 years ago the Muslim extremists displayed professional brilliance and strategy launching surprises from New York to D.C. — Eric D. Snider! (@EricDSnider) December 7, 2016

@newtgingrich Once again rather than do the courageous, American statement praising US troops, you salute our enemy. — I'll ride with you📎 (@mrshellwinger) December 7, 2016

@newtgingrich America's greatest generation really appreciates your touching tribute! — Avram Goldstein (@newsdoc) December 7, 2016

@newtgingrich There is a time for analytics and a time for tribute. My guess it that you have no idea what time it is. — GR Vimont (@gvravel) December 8, 2016