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...
You have to consider that Islam is an idea not a war machine like Nazi Germany or Japan. They are totally inept as a war machine. Together they don't have a world class military anything. They resort to car bombs, improvised devices or use our own planes. Reagan conquered the Communist idea with a better idea. Islam's greatest threat to us is demographics and immigration in which the West cooperates.