The A-bombs were used to stop the war, which probably resulted in saving both Japanese and American lives.
Did we drop the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki to save American lives, or to intimidate the Soviets?
Yes. The bloodiest battle in the Pacific were for Philippines, Iwo and Okinawa. Every step closer to the Japanese islands cost more and more American dead. The Kamikaze tactics were killing more and more American Sailors. Simply find and print out a chart of US Casualties and show graphically how US Casualties dead and wounded skyrocketed in the Pacific during 1944-45. Then show the civilian casualties on Sip an and Okinawa. Only pacific islands with major Japanese civilian populations. Post up how many of them died. Dropping the bombs save American AND Japanese lives. The facts are obvious to anyone who looks for for them.
Actually, both arguments have merit. If I were you I would try to consolidate the arguments somewhat.
You want to argue that the bombs saved American lives. Some experts believe that the homeland defense of Japan would have cost as many as one million American lives to complete.
The deterrence of the Soviets may have saved American lives as well since it demonstrated a willingness to use these harsh weapons. In light of FDR's capitulation at Yalta, it is not unreasonable to suppose that Stalin would construe US foreign policy as once again appeasement oriented-- inviting further Soviet attacks and potential pre emption against America.
Truman's caustic bombing probably sobered Soviet realpolitik and prevented a deadly assault on the globe and possibly America by the aspiring communist system.
Permise is false. Not an either or. Both are factually valid reasons to use the bombs. Another thing to consider. The food distribution network was breaking down. Japan was on the verge of wide spread starvations. Besiging Japan would of kill far more Japanese via starvation and disease then dropping the bombs did.
Both, of course.
I can give you an opinion. I was doing occupation duty in Austria after France and Germany. We were concerned that we would be shipped out to the Pacific. When Truman dropped the bomb the war was over and we come come home. We looked at it as a way to end the war quickly. Nothing more, nothing less. No fancy reasons or second guessing. Ending the war was reason enough.
The Japanese forces had been decimated on land, at sea, and in the air -- yet their worldview and mindset prevented them from accepting defeat. They would have fought with us on their homeland soil with even greater suicidal zeal.
I would beg the question and argue the point that ending the war through the strikes of August 1945 saved millions more lives on both sides of the conflict-- and prevented the general devastation to the Japanese homeland that would have surely occurred through a long and hard fought conventional air campaign and ground force invasion.
I would also argue that any good campaign planner and the battle commanders should prefer to use standoff weaponry and battlefield technology to minimize his own casualties and material losses. This is the principle of war called economy of force.
War will always be very ugly and very fatal -- and should be the last resort of any civilized nation-- but once forces are committed to the conflict -- you give them every possible advantage. Your troops' blood should be the last price paid for victory.
True peace only comes through victory -- it has never been "won" through a negotiated compromise.
Hope this helps.
http://www.geocities.com/mark_willey/truman.html
Heavily linked, and packed with quotes from historical figures of the day.
I tend to believe it was to save lives. Although many were lost in that event, it was such a HUGE onslaught that the Japanese had to see. Basically, I think it scared the bejeezus out of them, so they called it quits. And that's what has to be done because some people will think of others as being pathetic little weaklings until they knock 'em over with a show of strength. I think it's sad that this has to be the case, but all you have to do is look at the Arab terrorists. They absolutely will not leave us alone unless they can see that we're not afraid of them and can't be whipped by them. Pathetic little losers, is what they really are...
After the two A-bombs, the 20th never left the USA, and I was born three years later.
Fair warning...one of my sons took the position that the bomb saved American lives and his socialist teacher went on an absolute jihad against him. She also recruited two other radical teachers to bother him as well. We had to nail her harassment campaign by recording her rampages in the classroom then warned the other two to back off or we would nail them, also.
Bump to self