I have a hypothetical question. Let’s say the Imperial War Council after the bombs had fallen refused to surrender. It was a close vote so it could easily have happened. No more bombs immediately available for at least a while. What should have the US done then? Wait for more bombs meanwhile continuing conventional bombing or set about to invade with conventional land forces as well or something else?
The Japanese surrendered after the two atomic bombs were dropped. Therefore, these two massive strikes on civilian populations were justified.
It doesn't work that way. Everything I've read indicates that the U.S. only had two atomic bombs at the time, so there must have been a scenario in place to deal with a situation where the Japanese did not surrender after the second one was dropped. If the Japanese didn't surrender after the firebombing of Tokyo in March of 1945, then surely there couldn't have been any certainty that the destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki would have different results.