[Arthur McGowan]

Japan brought it on themselves. They were racist barbarians.

I believe Truman’s sincere motive was to shorten the war and save lives. Nevertheless, dropping bombs on cities with their civilian populations for the purpose of terror is and was a crime.

[Timber Rattler]

Nevertheless, dropping bombs on cities with their civilian populations for the purpose of terror is and was a crime.

Problem with that is that Japan's civilian population was thoroughly integrated into its war machine at the time, with its cottage industry system of war production.

[wita]

Nevertheless, dropping bombs on cities with their civilian populations for the purpose of terror is and was a crime.

Since when?

You win a war by destroying the will of the people to fight, or you destroy the people. There is no other way.

[Drrdot]

Food for thought (watch the video at the link): Bill Whittle nukes Jon Stewart's Truman-is-a-war-criminal charge

[cpdiii]

I believe Truman’s sincere motive was to shorten the war and save lives. Nevertheless, dropping bombs on cities with their civilian populations for the purpose of terror is and was a crime.

War is the systematic application of terror. War should be a last resort and not the first option. If there is no alternative, war must be terrible and a terror to be effective. It is ugly business to be avoided if possible.

[ohioman]

What Truman did was not a crime.