I feel for the Japanese people, when thoughts of The Bombs come up. But it was necessary. As Gene Hackmans character said in that movie with Denzel Washington (Crimson Tide)... “Would I have dropped The Bomb? Hell yes sir! I’da dropped the f*cker TWICE!”
Years ago at the beginning of the Iraq War by the first Bush, we went to a luncheon in Omaha that featured SACs General Stancil Dilda. They were supposed to have a live broadcast from Looking Glass, a flying communications system.
General Dilda (Google him) said there were operations going on so we couldn’t hear what was going on with LG and instead, the general instead would answer any questions. Keep in mind he was the head of computer operations at Offutt and he was speaking to a bunch of computer folks.
Guy in the audience asked the general, if you were in charge, how would you run the Iraq operations. Without hesitation he replied if it were up to him, it would be taken care of in a couple hours with little or no risk to American servicemen.
The person who asked the question and the rest of the audience assumed that he was inferring the use of nuclear weapons and asked if that’s what he was implying.
He said again, if it were up to him, the issue would be addressed in a couple hours and no American lives would be risked — next question.
I had a buddy stationed at Offutt and told him the story & how surprised I was at the answer. He asked me if I would rather have people in those positions who have to be able to accept & execute difficult orders.