Japan minister in atom bomb row (Surprising stance).

BBC ^ | Saturday, June 30, 2007

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

Hiroshima has preserved some of its ruins from the blast

The nuclear bombs dropped by the United States on Japan in 1945 were the inevitable way to end World War II, Japan's defence minister has said.

"I think it was something that couldn't be helped," said Fumio Kyuma in a speech at a university east of Tokyo.

His comments sparked outrage from survivors of the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

The minister, who represents Nagasaki in parliament, said later that he was expressing the US view of events.

In his speech, he said the US must have thought the bombs "could prompt Japan's surrender, thus preventing the Soviet Union from declaring war against Japan".

Japanese leaders rarely comment on the use of the atom bomb against Japan for fear of damaging ties with the US.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe played down Mr Kyuma's speech, saying it bore no effect on "Japan's important role of seeking abolition of nuclear weapons".

See a graphic showing how the Hiroshima attack took place

But Nagasaki survivor Terumi Tanaka, 75, said Mr Kyuma's comments were "outrageous".

"He must know hundreds of thousands of people died, and died in terrible agony," she was quoted as saying by AFP news agency.

"He is from Nagasaki, and I'm ashamed of him as a person from the same prefecture."

The row comes ahead of upper house elections on 29 July in which Mr Abe's party is facing dwindling public support.

THE ATTACK ON HIROSHIMA 0812 local time, 6 August 1945: 1. American B-29 bomber 'Enola Gay' approaches Hiroshima at an altitude of about 9,357 metres, and begins its bombing run 2. At 0815 it releases the atomic bomb 'Little Boy' 3. The aircraft then performs a sharp, 155 degree right turn and dives an estimated 518 metres 4. At 0816, the bomb explodes with a force of 13 kilotons at a height of approximately 576 metres above the city 5. About a minute later the first shock wave, travelling at about 335 metres per second, hits the aircraft

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[Jedi Master Pikachu]

Headline on the BBC website at the time of posting: “Japan minister in atom bomb row” .

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

ping.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

ping.

[PureSolace]

God Bless America! And Japan Too, who is now our Ally! God Protect the U.K. and all our other Allies... May the rest of the world who seeks our destruction turn over a new leaf and become our ally, or may they be wiped from the Earth! All Glory to God!

[Navy Patriot]

My goodness, a realist.

Truman saved millions on both sides, and administered the necessary object lesson to the Japanese to turn them from a terrorist race with delusions of superiority to a civilized one.

This same object lesson must be delivered to the Islamicists to achieve the same conversion, but America does not appear to be up to the task, this time.

[Greenpees]

If they had it, they would’ve used it. And, probably with less discretion regarding which of our cities to target. At least we avoided thier ancient places and capitol.

[mamelukesabre]

Why is this surprising? Everyone knows that had japan had nukes, they would have used them on The USA. Everyone knows that had we not used nukes on Japan, Japan still would have lost the war eventually. The nukes were used to end the war quickly.

[2ndDivisionVet]

There is a lesson here: Don’t attack the United States of America and you won’t have to worry about being incinerated in a nuclear fireball! Are you listening, Iran?

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

It's shocking how many people around the world consider the nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki as being crimes against humanity.

If those bombs were not dropped, and with the information the United States had on Japan at the time, the United States was prepared to invade Japan at a cost of up to the lives of 1,000,000 American soldiers and millions of Japanese soldiers and civilians. Thousands of lives were lost at Hiroshima and Nagasaki so that millions were not.

[weegee]

Yes. Better for hundreds of thousands to die falling on swords and bayonets and getting hit by missiles, grenades, and flame throwers. < / s >

As Bill Maher would say “this was a cowardly act”. Did I mention that Maher is a heartless bastard who wouldn’t fight for any cause?

[ketsu]

There is a lesson here: Don’t attack the United States of America and you won’t have to worry about being incinerated in a nuclear fireball! Are you listening, Iran?

Here's a little secret. Roosevelt forced the Japanese to attack. By denying the Japanese their oil imports the Japanese(with no native oil reserves and got their oil from America) he had basically given the Japanese economy a death sentence unless they found another source of oil. Roosevelt *knew* the Japanese would have to attack the US in order to secure the indonesian oil fields.

It's good realpolitik on Roosevelt's part, but don't assume the world is so simple.

[dasboot]

Here's a little secret. Roosevelt forced the Japanese to attack. By denying the Japanese their oil imports the Japanese(with no native oil reserves and got their oil from America) he had basically given the Japanese economy a death sentence unless they found another source of oil.

So, like, why would he do a nasty thing like that?

[ketsu]

So, like, why would he do a nasty thing like that?

Because he was a democrat?

[dasboot]

OH! I figgered it musta had something to do with China, and their military buildup, and some pretty good reckonin’ that they were figgerin’ they were gonna be the Empire of the Sun ..or some such.

[dasboot]

I mean...I’d kinda feel bad fueling a machine like that.

[DB]

Japan was being denied their oil imports because they were killing people in mass in China.

Not that complicated.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

The United States was far from neutral before entering the war, but they were still very much an enemy. They attacked Pearl Harbor in a surprise attack (though this is debated) and were very cruel to prisoners of war and civilians in conquered lands.

[ketsu]

OH! I figgered it musta had something to do with China, and their military buildup, and some pretty good reckonin’ that they were figgerin’ they were gonna be the Empire of the Sun ..or some such.

Points? Follow them much?

[ketsu]

The United States was far from neutral before entering the war, but they were still very much an enemy. They attacked Pearl Harbor in a surprise attack (though this is debated) and were very cruel to prisoners of war and civilians in conquered lands.

Japan was heavily conflicted about involving the US. The neo-cons of their day were all for total war. But the smarter and more rational Japanese leaders including Admiral Yamamoto thought that war with the US was suicide.