[StrangeLee]

Nah, it wasn't aimed at you. If it was, I would have made it direct, so I apologise that it came across incorrectly, and reading back over it, it certainly is not well worded at all.

I was actually getting at 'war is a terrible thing, it's not nice and the results hang around for years to come. To sit back and look at pictures is different to seeing the results with your own eyes'. I am quite thankful that I've never had to see anything that terrible.

As for the bomb being dropped is good or bad, I actually lean towards that it wasn't needed. Allegations that Japan was close to surrendering before the bomb was dropped comes to mind. From what I have read, is that their Navy and air force were essentially ineffective in 1945.

Something that is overlooked, though matches the scale of destruction, is the firebombing of Tokyo in March, 1945. 100,000 casualties, though achieved with a considerable number of aircraft.

I do believe that given time, the Japanese would have surrendered on their own. Given the factors that they were effectively blockaded in, combined with dwindling oil supplies and starvation among the population. As well as intercepted reports that there was an intent to surrender.

Admiral William D. Leahy had apparently said, 'It is my opinion that the use of this barbarous weapon at Hiroshima and Nagasaki was of no material assistance in our war against Japan. The Japanese were already defeated and ready to surrender because of the effective sea blockade and the successful bombing with conventional weapons.' It is taken from the book, I Was There.

Another good quote comes from Herbert Hoover, when addressing President Truman of the United States of America; 'I am convinced that if you, as President, will make a shortwave broadcast to the people of Japan - tell them they can have their Emperor if they surrender, that it will not mean unconditional surrender except for the militarists - you'll get a peace in Japan - you'll have both wars over.'

I do have to actually ask, were there more circumstances behind it? I honestly don't know, but as I said earlier in this post, I do strongly believe the bombing was bad and unneeded.