[leadpenny]

Truman had to make a hard choice, but in the end, there was no choice. W's administration is drifting at the moment and it may be because he knows drastic steps will have to be taken.

[oceanview]

why didn't Truman use the first atomic bombs on Tokyo then?

we have to make careful decisions here. if these insurgents were a massed army in the field, like the Republican Guard, we would have obliterated them already. But they are mixed in with the population, and if our attacks are indescriminate, and that same population "signs on" to their cause - we'll have 100s of thousands or a million opposing us. We cannot handle that situation.

its tough on these Marines, the losses they are taking, but there is a bigger picture here.