Belgarion wrote on Aug 8
th, 2022 at 9:25pm:
Bobby. wrote on Aug 8
th, 2022 at 6:35pm:
freediver wrote on Aug 8
th, 2022 at 6:17pm:
Yes, but is it your own speculation?
Yes -
I'm not the only one FD.
You need to read up on the subject -
I can help you:
https://apjjf.org/2021/20/Kuzmarov-Peace.htmlWas There a Diplomatic Alternative?
The Atomic Bombing and Japan's Surrender
October 15, 2021.
One day after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, General MacArthur’s pilot, Weldon E. Rhoades, noted in his diary: “General MacArthur definitely is appalled and depressed by this ‘Frankenstein’ monster. I had a long talk with him today, necessitated by the impending trip to Okinawa.”4
Admiral Halsey, Commander of the U.S. Third Fleet, testified before Congress in September 1949, “I believe that bombing – especially atomic bombing – of civilians, is morally indefensible. . . . I know that the extermination theory has no place in a properly conducted war.”5
Admiral Leahy, Truman’s chief military advisor, wrote in his memoirs: “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.”6
That the Japanese were on the verge of defeat was made clear to the president in a top-secret memorandum from Secretary of War Henry Stimson on July 2, 1945. Stimson noted that Japan “has no allies,” its “navy is nearly destroyed,” she is vulnerable to an economic blockade depriving her “of sufficient food and supplies for her population,” she is “terribly vulnerable to our concentrated air attack upon her crowded cities, industrial, and food resources,” she “has against her not only the Anglo-American forces but the rising forces of China and the ominous threat of Russia,” and the United States has “inexhaustible and untouched industrial resources to bring to bear against her diminishing potential.”
Bobby, you are sadly mistaken. MacArthur was an egotist who would willingly sacrifice others for his own ends and was angry that the use of nuclear weapons had robbed him of the chance to showcase his 'leadership' in an invasion of the home islands. Had such an invasion gone ahead the Japanese people were prepared to resist until the death. Literally.
There were measures in place to execute all POWs and civilian internees in Japanese hands. Not only in Japan itself but in all other ares still held by Japanese forces. There was to be total mobilisation of the entire population - every man woman and child. Look at this picture
https://i2.wp.com/militaryhistorynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/1024px-Kokum... or this one
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/b7/54/f3/b754f36331125481cf10c91fa92632bf.jpgThis shows how committed the Japanese people were. They did not believe they were defeated and as I noted earlier, the casualties on both sides would have been horrendous.
All these lives were saved by the use of nuclear weapons. Your 'war crime' assertion is ridiculous.
May I interject here for a moment please (my hubby is a Foxtel History addict and as his wife my place is next to him .. on this comfy sofa watching whatever he watches).
We've listened to that many documentaries over the use of the atomic bomb and whether it was necessary/warranted esp so late in the war yadda yadda yadda.
There are 2 schools of thought over this. 1 represents your view Belgarian; the other represents Bobby's view.
There is an emerging 3rd view. And that's this : irrespective of where Japan was at in 1945 ... the war had drained an entire globe of millions of people, damaged land and other natural resources and devastated economies that everyone everywhere was physically/psychologically/emotionally/financially EXHAUSTED.
Meantime Japan's soldiers were still operating as indoctrinated robots fully controlled by their Emperor /god. They were ordered to fight to the last man and that was the only order they were prepared to listen to.
And this is where the USA comes in: Having grabbed a few gifted scientists from the now defeated Germany ... they were more than ready to use this weapon in order to FINALLY bring an end to a war which started in 1939. So by 1945.... a wonderful 2 pronged opportunity arose for the US. The US could finally get back at Japan for Pearl Harbour (that reason wasn't talked about much of course) WHILE testing out what an atomic bomb could actually do because no one REALLY knew (that reason was also not talked about much).
Anyway the day came where the marketing of the idea of the necessity for using the atomic bomb was finally approved. Essentially ALL sides were go. Which sides? These ones : If you weren't sick of war and its death and destruction you were sick of Japan's robot like soldiers who fully intended to continue fighting til the last man. I should mention here that "man" would have included boys.
Others were keen for revenge for Pearl Harbour and others were keen to see what emerging atomic technology could do to a relentless enemy hell bent on continuing to save their emperor's face and reputation.
Irrespective of which side you chose/identified with, you were party to the decision to go ahead.
Bobby?
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77 years ago Atomic bombing of Hiroshima (Read 3453 times)
