[Solson]

The Japanese "people" weren't in the position to surrender, only they're emperor was. Your point is moot. Obviously the firebombing and nuking of three major cities seriously accelerated the surrender of Japanese forces.

Thus, the obliteration of major cities does work. In this case, in the current age, there is no city to obliterate - thus a major problem of terrorism.

[Walkingfeather]

the problem is most likely these are syrians. What we need to do is start a brutal sabatoge campaign against their infrastraucture to make them more internally focused. Especially about supplying these terrorists. Once they loose a few fresh water plants, a dam or two, all the electricty in damascus maybe it will get their attention.

[r9etb]

Thus, the obliteration of major cities does work.

The link I provided above points out that by July, 1945 Curtis LeMay had basically run out of large Japanese cities to destroy -- and no surrender was in sight.

In this case, in the current age, there is no city to obliterate - thus a major problem of terrorism.

Precisely. And thus is shown the stupidity of trying to end terrorism by destroying Iraqi cities.