December 7th marks the anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941

Pravda ^ | 7 december 2004 | Michael Berglin

[kupia_kummi]

The numbers lost at Peal Harbor and the two Japanese cities don't even compare - Japan lost several hundred folds when the balance sheet is finalized. We can rationalize all we want and we have done this so often - but it still remains the second bomb was a vindictive, uncalled for, genocidal strike. We did not listen to the Japanese after the first bomb, in the language of their culture, they surrendered. To Japan, I, as one person, as one American wish to say this: the first bomb was strictly business. The second bomb, I wholly apologize. It was not necessary and there is no way I can rationalize the dropping of it. It was a terrible thing my country did. I am so very sorry that was done to your women, children and older citizens.

In terms of body count Hiroshima and Nagasaki shows Japan lost far more than we did at Pearl Harbor. But mankind, as a result of Pearl Harbor, Hiroshima, and Nagasaki, lost more than just innocent people.

We sold our souls for new ways to point fingers and to put into action disgusting means of dealing with those whose religion, race, and creed are a tad different than ours. From the wrongful imprisonment of innocent Japanese-Americans, to the death camps in Germany and in the jungles of Asia. America, in our dealings with the Native-Americans from 1870 through 1890, was by Hitler's own words, his role model for how he treated the Jews, and how many other leaders, and countries, learned from our own actions. Perhaps Stalin too looked upon the American Indian Wars and thought "This is the correct way".

[kupia_kummi]

Outrageous comments by a liberal !

[Izzy Dunne]

We did not listen to the Japanese after the first bomb, in the language of their culture, they surrendered.

Hmmm. When faced with such an enemy, it is MY duty to speak in HIS language, so as to make it clear to HIM what I mean.

[Texas_Jarhead]

screw the author - he's always spewing some left wing drivel

[crazyhorse691]

I apologize for the rantings of this genetically mutated jelly fish formerly known as a liberal.

[Izzy Dunne]

The second bomb, I wholly apologize.

I wish to apologize for this apology and state that it was completely unnecessary, and there is no way I can rationalize the publishing of it.

[Shellback Chuck]

Revisionist BS.

http://www.milnet.com/nukeweap/hiroshima/hiroshima.htm

[Izzy Dunne]

It was a terrible thing my country did. I am so very sorry that was done to your women, children and older citizens.

It stopped the war, didn't it?
It made them surrender LOUD and CLEAR, didn't it?
It precluded an armed invasion by the Allied forces, didn't it?

[GSlob]

Why on Earth post anything from pravda here on FR? One should observe hygienic standards and not touch such crap without wearing a protective apron and extra thick gloves. Gas mask would help, too.

[gotmatt]

We sold our souls for new ways to point fingers and to put into action disgusting means of dealing with those whose religion, race, and creed are a tad different than ours.

A

TAD

DIFFERENT?

firstly, the 1st bomb wouldn't have been dropped if Pearl Harbor never happened... Secondly, whose this we? We, AMERICANS, Dropped the bomb on Japan, Not "We, ALLIES..."

And finally, where do people like this draw their line? what's the difference over 3,000 dead or 300,000? Dead is Dead... they seem to draw the line at ONE life(the death penalty) but not millions(the unborn), but hundreds of thousands again if our government killed them(every war since the civil war).

[nuke_road_warrior]

A few quick comments:

To paraphrase the immortal words of "Bomber" Harris... They sowed the wind and reaped the whirlwind.

The Nagasaki atomic bomb was fully justified as Japan had not yet surrendered. Had the A-bombs not been used I would not likely be here, my dad's infantry division was in training for the invasion of Japan (after about nine months in Europe) when the war ended. He hadn't yet met my mother.

Interesting that this appeared in "Pravda" considering what the Soviet troops did to Berlin, strictly as vengeance.

[NautiNurse]

dishonest story, tripe source

[gringo_in_Akita]

I was at the peace park and a-bomb dome in Hiroshima a while back. My girlfriend at the time (Japanese) took me there because she wanted to change my mind. I think that while it's terrible that it had to happen, it was the right thing to do at the time.
Anyway, there were a bunch of Japanese hippies there who got up in my grill and shoved some petition in my face. They wanted me to sign on to a petition to the US government demanding a formal apology for the bombings. Of course, I refused. The hippies were not happy. Nor was my girlfriend. They wouldn't let up, so I asked them where the petition was for apologizing to China for spearing babies with bayonettes and indiscriminatly killing more people in a few weeks than were killed at Hiroshima and Nagasaki together. Again, the hippies and my girlfriend were NOT impressed, nor were some other American hippies who had by then assembled, armed with standard 60lb hippy hiking backbacks. I was completely civil the whole time, but the American hippies still took it upon themselves to apologize on my behalf and badmouth our president, who was what- a toddler when the bombs were dropped? Sorry for rambling, folks.

[Joee]

I was a young thinking teenager on Dec.7th 41. At the end of the war I was just pushing 20, fully registered with the draft and only waiting for the end of the school year to enlist.

I didn't know anyone that wasn't elated with the A-Bomb, or had an ounce of pity for the bombs target. I still feel that way. They asked for it and IT was delivered.

[tophat9000]

We did not listen to the Japanese after the first bomb, in the language of their culture, they surrendered.

Really because the news to alot of people because it didn't happen

Note number one ...dirty little secret We demanded unconditional surrender from Japan like we did with Germany and guess what we didn't get it..Japan set the condition the Emperor Hirohito stay as Emperor and could not be brought up on war crimes (like we had intended to) ...

Note number two The Japanese high command still did not want to surrender and infact attempted a coup to stop a surrender and almost succeeded

Note number three Emperor Hirohito never even used the word "surrender" in his announcement

All this even after two A bombs

[NoControllingLegalAuthority]

Yes, my father-in-law was training for a ground invasion of Japan. Our men were training in hand-to-hand combat and were told the sobering possibilities of enormous casualties should such an invasion take place.

When ruthless and barbaric mofos "Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war," they deserve a hundred-fold response.

My father's bomb group in the South Pacific lost more than 800 men. Many were lost ten at a time in B-24's. Many of these men were captured. Few ever came back. The Japanese killed many Americans VERY SLOWLY while our heroes screamed in agony.

The Japanese were some of the most barbaric torturers of human beings in history.

The Japanese were lucky to have a country left.

They ought to get down on their knees and be thankful we didn't do what the Romans would have done to such barbarians. The Romans would have killed every man, woman and child, burned the cities to the ground and salted the fields so they would never grow another crop.

We could have turned their country into glass and they deserved it for the ruthlessness they exhibited against all those they fought.

The Japanese have never apologized for their sneak attack on Pearl Harbor or for a long list of horrible atrocities committed against the Chinese and many others. If you think I'm exaggerating, read about the rape of Nan King.

Screw 'em. They got far better than they deserved. We rebuilt their country and gave them more modern industry than our own in the United States.

[8roundclip]

Everyone should read the J-3 portion of Operation Downfall. (The plan for the invasion of Japan). It predicted a million american casualties, both dead and wounded, as the cost for the reduction of the four home islands of Japan. In my mind, there is no possible comparison here. Both bombs were totally justified. End of discussion.

[383rr]

Why don't the japs apologize for the rape of Nanking, and to all the Korean(and many other asian) women they kidnapped as sex slaves? And what about their treatment of P.O.W.'s, whom they tortured and used as slave labor? How soon people forget.

[festus]

Bombing them was a damn good idea.

My favorite quote was from a naval captian ( rank unclear ) who upon sailing into Pearl Harbor post attack was :

"This will be over when the Japanese language is spoken only in hell".

Who was the gentleman that said this ?

[MRMEAN]

To Japan, I, as one person, as one American wish to say this: the first bomb was strictly business. The second bomb, I wholly apologize. It was not necessary and there is no way I can rationalize the dropping of it. It was a terrible thing my country did. I am so very sorry that was done to your women, children and older citizens.

Excuse me while I puke. Any one who has actually studied the history knows that even after the second bomb the Jap military was not inclined to surrender, and even tried to thwart the decision of Emperor Hirhito. And every time I read of the atrocities of the Jap army, in their treatment of Chinese civilians, British, American, and Australian military, and others, I regret we did not drop 100 atomic bombs on Japan, since they deserved it.

My dad was young when WW2 started, and was in the Navy at the end of the war and his ship was destined to support the invasion. Being in the Navy, he had I suppose a better chance than a grunt in the Army of surviving the invasion, but suppose his return had been delayed two years...I probably would not have been born...and he might not have survived.

I am very comfortable and happy with Truman's decisions...and I don't think that the Jap public was "innocent," they knew what their Army was up to and they were OK with it as long as they were winning...and even after.

[snowsislander]

"This will be over when the Japanese language is spoken only in hell".

Who was the gentleman that said this ?

The quote is from Admiral William "Bull" Halsey.