There were plenty of alternatives to dropping the bomb(s) on undefended civilian centers. Here are a few
1) Drop one a few miles off the coast of Tokyo Harbour at say 20,000 ft, as a subtle demonstration.
2) Drop one on a full scale military target such as a large airbase or Navel Base.
3) Drop a bomb on a (nearly) uninhabited island, as another type of subtle demonstration
The argument you use "we had to drop the bomb(s) 'cuz it saved lives" simpl doesn't cut the mustard. The invasion canard is simply a red herring. In August 1945, the Japs were no longer a threat to US forces anywhere. Rather than a invasion, US forces could have continued their solid blockade of Japan and gone on with the air bombardment (against military targets).
Please recall that by August 1945, Japan was so incapable of serious fighting that American Battleships were able to come within a few miles of shore pretty much anywhere they pleased and fire off a few hundred 16 inch rounds. USAAF planes flew where and when they wanted. The Jap Airforce had effectively ceased to exist. The entire Japanese coastline had become one vast shooting gallery.
We could have done a 1945 version of Saddam Insane.....simply contain the bastards until they quit. Sure, it may have taken a while longer, but many more lives would have been saved, and the Anti-American crowd would not be able to yammer endlessly on the subject.
Most Americans believe it was a mistake and that there were better alternatives. Perhaps in Brighton Beach they refuse to admit their errors, but in the rest of 'merica, when we make a mistake we admit it and move on. It is one of those traits which makes people love us. Assimilate it
Riiiiiiiiight. You would be posting messages about the "starving" Japanese children, who starve because we are blockading Japan.
and the Anti-American crowd would not be able to yammer endlessly on the subject.
Reality check. The anti american crowd *is* yammering about our containment of Saddam. Saddam needs to be taken out ASAP. Containment won't do. Most Americans believe it was a mistake and that there were better alternatives.
Who made you the spokesman for most of the Americans?
Perhaps in Brighton Beach they refuse to admit their errors, but in the rest of 'merica, when we make a mistake we admit it and move on.
I don't follow. What made you bring up Brighton Beach, and exactly how familiar are you with it to categorize/generalize the people who live there?