Attitudes on the nuclear bomb deployment on Japan during WWII

[Constantine]

When I was younger I used to think the bombs we dropped on Japan was attrocitous. When I got older I learned my grandfather served in WWII, it still didn't change my opinion. A few years ago I also learned a great grand father, and a grand uncle also served in WWII. Around the time I also watched a documentary on WWII, THE WAR | PBS. The last episode they discussed the decision to use the bombs. They weighed the pros, and cons. They rationalized using the bombs a number of different ways; the military and government were fearful of a mutiny by G.I.s who were stationed in Europe, if they had to go fight in the pacific, based on the casualties, and fatalties we sustained in Okinawa, and Iwo Jimo, and that the Japanese sustained, it was projected that we would sustain 500,000, to a few million casualties, and the Japanese would sustain up to 10 million casualties in a invasion. Operation Downfall - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Being older has changed my opinion, mostly due to the fact that my releatives might have been transfered to the pacific, and may not have returned. I know that sounds selfish. I was just wondering what everybodies else opinion is.

 

[Shogun]

The reality is Japan could have been defeated by simply reinforcing the blockade, and starving them out. It would have taken a while, but Japan couldn't maintain their infrastructure with zero imports. The problem was, however, we didn't have the time to wait them out, which is the real reason why we used the nukes.

Russia had recently declared war on Japan and was about to push its influence south into Asia. Before the war even ended America was gaming the upcoming war with w/ the Soviets. By knocking Japan out quickly via nukes America accomplished two things:

1. Defeat Japan alone, earning the right to occupy Japan alone...giving us a military footing in Asia (which would quickly be used to invade Korea)

2. Send a message to the Soviet Union that we weren't fukking around, and they shouldn't either.


Was it morally right or wrong? It really has very little to do with the conversation. As awful as the nukes were they paled in comparison to the terror bombings employed by all side during WW2. Tactically it was the right thing to do.

Most people will probably just resort to the "evil white man" argument, though. Hope that's what your looking for

 

[DEAD7]

F*ck em.

Spoiler

 

[num123]

I don't give a shyt, they were committing atrocities throughout the war. If we had 10 we should of hit them with all of them.

Sent from my LG-P999 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Orbital-Fetus]

The reality is Japan could have been defeated by simply reinforcing the blockade, and starving them out. It would have taken a while, but Japan couldn't maintain their infrastructure with zero imports. The problem was, however, we didn't have the time to wait them out, which is the real reason why we used the nukes.

Russia had recently declared war on Japan and was about to push its influence south into Asia. Before the war even ended America was gaming the upcoming war with w/ the Soviets. By knocking Japan out quickly via nukes America accomplished two things:

1. Defeat Japan alone, earning the right to occupy Japan alone...giving us a military footing in Asia (which would quickly be used to invade Korea)

2. Send a message to the Soviet Union that we weren't fukking around, and they shouldn't either.


Was it morally right or wrong? It really has very little to do with the conversation. As awful as the nukes were they paled in comparison to the terror bombings employed by all side during WW2. Tactically it was the right thing to do.

Most people will probably just resort to the "evil white man" argument, though. Hope that's what your looking for

i agree with just about everything said here.
splitting Germany with the Soviets was bad enough, doing the same with Japan would have put us at a severe disadvantage for possible future conflict with the Big Red.

 

[Juneya]

No excuse to EVER drop or use those shyts... None... everyone involved in that action should be on trail for war crimes. Its sick.

 

[Mook]

nikka THEY WAS LUCKY WE ONLY HAD TWO. THOSE a$$holeS REALLY DIDNT EVEN BLINK AT THE FIRST ONE, HAD LIKE 3 DAY SIT DOWN AFTER THAT SECOND, AND SURRENDER ONLY PASSED BY LIKE ONE VOTE.

 

[MikelArteta]

should have dropped them thangs on tokyo

 

[Brown_Pride]

As bad as they were they pail in comparison to the alternative. Ironically that whoelsale destruction of two cities ended up saving more lives in the long run.

Plus they started it...

 

[DEAD7]

should have dropped them thangs on tokyo

 

[theworldismine13]

imperial japan was a disgusting organization that needed to be broken down to its very last compound

 

[The Real]

Japan was already prepared to offer conditional surrender before the bombs were dropped, which is something that is often ignored in these discussions. It's true that they ignored the Allied surrender demand, but that's because they didn't agree to the terms, not because they were interested in prolonging the war. Really, what they didn't offer was the unconditional surrender that the US wanted. At the end of the day, I couldn't care less if they wanted to keep their figurehead Emperor- the UK still has its royalty, after all. I think the same outcome could easily have been achieved without dropping the bombs, since the blockade was already in place and the brutal firebombings were already razing entire towns, and the Soviets had entered the fray.

I personally oppose the use of atomic weapons in war, period. We cursed entire generations of unborn children with cancer, birth defects, and lives of suffering among other completely needless effects, and I can't dismiss or justify that as collateral- it's just wrong to me.

 

[Ed MOTHEREFFING G]

They made their bed when they attacked US Soil. Great first 2 posts by the way. Enjoy my Positive rep for the day.

 

[Orbital-Fetus]

As bad as they were they pail in comparison to the alternative. Ironically that whoelsale destruction of two cities ended up saving more lives in the long run.

Plus they started it...