It was an evil act. War is evil.
Indiscriminate bombing of cities was what every single power who had the capability at the time did.
Here’s a good thought experiment. What other major power, if it had had the bomb, would not have used it?
Would Germany have used it? Duh.
Would the Soviets have used it? Also duh.
Would Japan have used it? Yet again, duh.
Would Italy have used it? Mussolini was DYING for a seat at the big boy table. The bomb is just what he would have needed to get it and for Italy to be taken seriously as a major power. You bet your ass he would have used it.
Would France have used it? As opposed to being invaded and occupied? Hell yes they would have used it.
Would Britain have used it? They were pretty much reduced to being the Junior partner of America by that point and everybody - even they - knew it. The bomb would have catapulted them right back into the front rank alongside America and the Soviet Union. And let’s not forget the Japanese had been utter bastards to them. They didn’t hesitate to firebomb German cities. Hell yes, they would have used it.
Would any of the smaller powers invaded, crushed and occupied have used it? Every single last one of them had they asked their citizens which option to choose, would have been forced by their people to use it.
EVERYBODY would have used the bomb at that time if they had it.
It’s not well publicized and when it is its routinely dismissed. However, Japan did have a bomb research program. That program’s “Oppenheimer” - Bunsaku Arakatsu, was interviewed before his death about the program and somewhat reluctantly verified the program. There was a History Channel TV episode on this. According to a book (I will provide the link to Amazon for it!) written about the program Japan was 18 months from a bomb. The “physical plant” part of the program was in what is now North Korea. This was seized by the Soviets and copied or transported back and made part of their program. Some claim that there was a “Trinity-style” test done on a north Korean island with results varying from successful to “fizzle” - maybe planned and more of a “dirty bomb” then fission bomb. The author of the book in a new edition (see link below) claims the “physical plant” formed something of the basis of the NK program.
Note it’s been in the best interests of the left both in the West (the US particularly!) and Japan to deny all evidence of the existence of the Japanese nuclear bomb program. It allows the constant moral castigation of the US for being the first to sue the bomb and those promoting it opportunities to preen about their moral superiority.
The link