If killing civilians is wrong, then it is always and ever wrong, although sometimes unavoidable. The method or weapon used for the killing is not the most important issue.
You're right then. I did misunderstand your question. As with you, I don't see much difference between the two. IIRC, the firebombing of Dresden and Tokyo caused greater loss of life than the atomic bombings, but I could be wrong. It must be a "liberal thing."
Mark
The generally accepted figures are 100,000 for Tokyo and 140,000 for Hiroshima, with many of the latter dying of radiation well after the attack.
Some consider the Tokyo number significantly under-estimated, perhaps by as much as 50%.
In recent years the very high numbers often quoted for the Dresden attack have been scaled well back due to new evidence. Present generally accepted numbers are in the 25k to 35k range, considerably less than those for Hamburg earlier in the war.