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I think it is viewed as acceptable if it is judged that it would help bring an end to whatever armed conflict we are in, nuclear or conventional.

You may be right that some people feel that way but no one I know does and no president has. Otherwise why did Truman not use the bomb in Korea? Why have we not used it in the half dozen or so military conflicts since WWII?

I was referring to targeting civilians as legitmate targets during an armed conflict, not using the Bomb. But, I think that the same applies to the Bomb. We will intentionally target civilians if it in our best interests to do so. We will use the Bomb against civilians if it is in our best interests to do so. Our best interests include the likelihood that our enemies will retaliate in kind. In war, the ends really do justify the means.