Posted on 08/03/2020 7:06:21 AM PDT by Kaslin
It is August, 2020, now seventy-five years since the end of America's World War II hostilities with the nation then known as the Empire of Japan. August 6 and 9 are the historic anniversary dates of the first and only use of nuclear weapons in warfare. In the ensuing three quarters of a century, the attacks of 1945 on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki their usefulness and their rectitude have been the subject of vigorous debate over their military, scientific, political, historic, and moral significance.
Schools of thought regarding yes-or-no justification generally break down as follows:
Yes. The European and Pacific wars were already too costly in lives and property. A quick end was mandatory.
No. The European war was already over, and the Pacific conflict was winding down. The Soviet Union, free from battling Germany, was soon to engage in hostile action against Japan.
Yes. There were no good options. This was the least bad alternative.
No. Regardless of military considerations, the attacks were a crime against humanity for the massive carnage of Japan's innocent civilian population, and Japan was presumably about to capitulate. America should apologize to Japan.
Yes. Western notions of chivalry, honor, and humane treatment of vanquished opponents were alien to Japan's ruthless, barbarous, and sadistic military culture. A powerful checkmate was required, and Japan should apologize to the world.
The atomic attacks by the United States Army Air Force on the two Japanese cities undeniably were horrific tragedies. Abstracted from historical context, by themselves, they do suggest extravagant cruelty in a purely vengeful act by this nation. And they provide ready ammunition for the "Shame America" movement, now in high gear over America's history of slavery, accusations of endemic racism, and other assorted offenses.
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
Fully justified !!!
It probably goes beyond that. Purely speculative, but had we not shown we had the bomb and were willing to use it, would the Soviets have pushed into western Europe? How many lives would have been taken in defending against that action?
Unfortunately at that time, traitors were already giving the Soviets information about the bomb.
Most probably saved my father’s life. He would have been in the invasion force.
Very good list. a yes reasons.
The nature of the force used scared the hell out of the world population and supported nuclear arms control that worked for75 years.
Still it took 2 bombs to convince the Japanese to surrender
It’s war. Don’t like war? Don’t engage in one.
Precisely. My Dad was a Chief on the carrier Ticonderoga steaming for the Japanese islands when the bomb was dropped. Navy personnel were being converted to infantry. Being a big stout guy, he had already been told he would be carrying a BAR. That decision is probably why I am alive today.
I can’t believe we’re debating this crapola again. For the last time, it was completely justified. End of story. Anyone who thinks differently is an idiot. Yes, I am being rather blunt, but that’s exactly what I think.
Frankly, the Japs got what they deserved for their utterly brutal treatment of prisoners and occupied citizens. The A-bomb was totally justified as an act of punishment alone. Call me a heretic.
Justified. A nuclear weapon is just another weapon, not the boogieman. If you’re going to fight a war, you fight to win and you fight to end it as soon as reasonably possible.
And ditto for the bombing of Dresden!
Read post #47. THAT is what difference it makes . . . most likely X 1,000,000. . . .
My mom, into her 80s, recalled the names of her high school friends who didn’t come home from the Pacific and European campaigns.
On the county courthouse square (Appanoose County, Iowa) an engraved stone lists their names.
Every one of these asshole who speak out against that bombing were not there in the Pacific fighting.
I had two uncles there. Both of them said it was the best thing to happen and, BTW, they forget that the USA did not start that war. We wanted to stay the hell out of it.
We are still fighting that war. Dam Germans are living on the security off our backs and we get to police the world.
Yet the good thing to come out of it is that the most bitter of enemies have become the best of friends-Japan.
Was the Japanese Empire’s goal of world conquest justified?
There was also this
Japan’s race to build an atomic bomb !
Did I need a sarc tag?
Agreed 100%.
As were the hospital ships. My mother was Chief of Nursing at West Point during most of the war. She and most of her nurses were on a train from New York to New Orleans to board transport ships to support the invasion of the Japanese mainland.
They were turned around about halfway there due to the bomb being dropped on Hiroshima.
I’m possibly only here due to the Atomic Bomb.
Anyone who says they were unjustified should put themselves in the boots of the soldiers who would have had to storm the beaches of Japan. We already saw how the Japanese would fight to the last man during our island hopping campaign. There would have been millions of Japanese civilians killed since Japan made civilians part of their defense force. I would guess we saved 500,000 American lives and at least 5 million Japanese lives by dropping the two bombs. The American lives alone made it worthwhile.
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