Quote:
Originally Posted by MMM
I am not going to say I justify or don't justify, I am saying this was the choice that President Truman had to make. I think you and Tenchu have this fantasy idea that there were all these choices that could have been made, or that he relished in the slaughter of thousands and thousands of people. It's easy to say "There is always another way..." Well, what is it, then? What way do you have that could have saved more lives? Why couldn't hundreds of advisors, generals, and leaders from all over the world not find it?
The fact is that Truman dropped the bomb to save lives. Many have tried to rewrite history to imply otherwise, but that is the truth.
Keep in mind that Japanese saw the emperor as a god. They were fanatically nationalistic, and had already engaged in suicide attacks on American ships. The civilians had already begun training, and followed the samurai code of the greatest honor was to die in battle. This included women and children. Innocent or not, they were all going to fight, and were happy to die for thier country.
What can't be denied is that the bombings did end the war earlier than if they hadn't occurred. The massive loss of life was smaller than the firebombings that occurered in Tokyo and other parts of Japan, and it can't be denied that the loss of American AND Japanese life would have been greater than 100,000 (Hiroshima and Nagasaki deaths combined) if America had launched a ground assualt. The only other viable option to end the war.
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I'm sorry to say this, but i truly believe you are justifying the actions of Truman. You as an american, "seem" rather biast when it comes to this matter, where as for me, i believe both America and Japan done some discusting things, but I can't and will not accept that TWO A bombs was for the "greater good"!
As for another way, well let me think, off the top of my head (took me less than a min to think off) i can think of an easy one!!! How about he tries to invade by land, AND then if the predictions seem to be accurate (that millions of lives would be taken), THEN use the bombs! Saying there were no other choices is not correct.
Which generals, leaders etc are you talking about? I've never seen anything from any country that justifies this "act of barbarism" as Roosevelt put it!
The United States Strategic Bombing Survey, set up by the war Department in 1944 to study the results of aerial attacks in the war, interviewed hundreds/thousands (I can't remember) of Japanese civilians and military leaders after Japan surrendered, and reported just after the war: based on a detailed investigation of all the facts and supported by the testimony of the surviving Japanese leaders involved, it is the survey’s opinion that certainly prior to 31 December 1945, and in all probability prior to 1 November 1945, Japan would have surrendered even if the atomic bombs had not been dropped, even if Russia had not entered the war, and even if no invasion had been planned or contemplated.
Also, reading previous posts, i've noticed some of the figures are WAY out... for example, you said 100,000 for hiroshima and nagasaki... Actaully it was more like 200,000.
Also, you said, predictions were for 5million losses... Truman said the figure he got was for around HALF a million, and the government said a million according to secretary of state Byrnes.
AND, i do deny that the bombings ended the war sooner...Even if the men women and children were being trained to fight till death for a "god", that doesn't mean that they would have done it... and according to many japanese officials, they would have surrenderd soon anyway like i wrote above, but another point i forgot is that they would have surrendered to either Russia or USA. but they would have chosen USA as it was "less evil" as was quoted from some reports!!
with all this said... I am not saying America were the only criminals in this war... the japanese done some horrific things too... I'll leave it at that...