[redgolum]

But the aim wasn't to conquer it for later use, but to end the threat. How would have the war ended if we didn't invade or bomb Japan? With the Russians entering the war, we could have easily lost Japan to the Iron Curtain.

Troops were already being staged for the invasion. Ships were being sent to build up the invasion fleet, and plans were being made. It wasn't a "what will we do if we have to invade Canada" type of thing, it was going to happen.

Even after the two atomic bombs, many in the Japanese army wanted to keep fighting. There was an attempted coup and a gun fight outside the Imperial Palace!

[Alberta's Child]

Japan ceased to be a threat to the U.S. long before August of 1945. Their inability to project force over long distances -- at least across the entire width of the Pacific Ocean -- pretty much ended at Midway.

With the Russians entering the war, we could have easily lost Japan to the Iron Curtain.

What difference would it have made to us, if this was an enemy nation we're talking about?

That mindset certainly didn't deter the U.S. from consigning all of Eastern Europe to five decades of misery behind the Iron Curtain, now did it?