[Lorica]

Now, if you've read this far, you're probably grinding your teeth at me! Look, I am no pacifist. I believe countries have a right to defend themselves from unjust attack. Our country was certainly attacked first, and without warning. But consider again the fact that Japan was trying to surrender. It was all but over, if we wanted to take negotiations seriously. The firebombings of many Japanese cities, as well as the two atomic bombs, of course, were totally unnecessary - by any standard, not just a Christian one - anytime after June 1945 (a case could be made for April).

I've had my uncertainties about this for years. Prior to that, I had accepted history as it was presented to me. Thank you for a very thought-provoking post.

[Basilides]

The Japanese weren’t trying to surrender...

Kantoro Suzuki’s cabinet was hopelessly divided between those who wanted to surrender CONDITIONALLY, and the militarists who wanted to surrender CONDITIONALLY.

Where the factions differed in was what were the conditions...

Only after the dropping of the two atomic bombs and the entry of the Soviet Union into the war with the invasion of Manchuria did the non-miltarists gain the upper hand, and convince Hirohito to accept UNCONDITIONAL surrender...the leader of the militarists Korechika Anami commited suicide as a result after a failed coup attempt to stop the surrender.

I suggest you read the following for a better understanding of the cause of VJ-Day:

Racing the Enemy: Stalin, Truman, and the Surrender of Japan By Tsuyoshi Hasegawa