Quote:
Originally Posted by noodle
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...
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The number 5,000,000 i pulled out as a theoritcal number, I didn't mean to use that as evidence. I have seen estimates at 500,000 to 4,000,000 Japanese and Americans killed if there was a ground war. This would certainly include Japanese citizens.
I am not saying what Truman did was right or wrong. What I am saying is he made a decision based on the information presented to him with the options he had.
Using your numbers, Noodle. 200,000 killed by using the bomb or 500,000 by not using it. By your number 300,000 lives were saved by using the bomb.
Naturally I wished we lived in a world where America never had dropped the A-bomb on anyone. The world has changed in drastic ways since then...many ways not for the better.
However, although that surely affected Truman's decision, that wasn't the immediate concern. The concern was the ending the war. Leadership in Japan was divided, with some wanting to concede and surrender, but other leaders wanting to engage in a battle (probably in the Phillipines) which would take out the most enemies possible. In post-war interviews it is very easy to say "We were about to surrender, and those savages kept attacking us." but the documentation of the plan to continue fighting is no secret.
Regardsless, I do not beleive my statements are biased because of my nationality.
My simple argument is less people died because of the bombings than not. You have said the US had another option. "There's always another way."
Well, what was it?