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Ishmael · 08-07-07, 08:28 PM

I've been busy preparing for the Randi Rhodes Air America Alaska Cruise we're leaving on Friday. I apologize for not commenting on this thread on Aug. 6 itself but I'm doing so now. First of all, here is the wiki link for Operation Downfall, the Allied Invasion of Japan:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_downfall

I direct you to the specific section dealing with Kestugo Sakusen, the Japanese defensive plans. To those who think negotiations were working, I direct you to the Japanese High command's decision to fully mobilize the entire Japanese population for defense. Also remember that the Emperor was a God and obedience was a sacred duty to the Japanese people. The Japanese terms included continuity of the entire wartime government and possession of captured territories gained by aggressive war.
These terms could never be accepted.

If you read the link on the Japanese defense plans, you'll see they had 10,000 kamikaze planes held in reserve to specifically target troop ships including Ohka rocket bombs and jet aircraft being built with German jet technology. Also remember that the Soviet Union had entered the war with Japan and had plans to invade Hokkaido on August 15, 1945.

Had the bombs not been used, the invasion force would have faced daunting, fanatical odds as the Japanese fought harder the closer you got to the home islands. Put yourself in Truman's shoes at the time. What would have been the result of an invasion disaster if it became known that he had a weapon that could have ended it early but did not use it?

Now I have a nuclear weapons background and have participated in NWAI's(Nuclear Weapons Acceptance Inspections) needed for nuclear capable certification, annual NTPIs(Nuclear Technical Proficiency Inspections) and TSIs(Technical Surprise Inspections). I have also walked the streets of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during that time. I concur with Truman's decision and believe to this day that, by shortening the war, it saved Allied and Japanese lives in toto and saved the overall sovereignty of the Japanese nation. Had Hokkaido been occupied by the Soviets, do we seriously believe they would have relenquished that occupation?

I said prayers and burned joss sticks for the souls of the dead yesterday and will do so again on Thursday for Nagasaki.

So in closing, here is my poem that deals with my feelings on the matter:

Mushotoku
By Richard Scott

The essence of One Cut, We climbed Mt. Niitaka,
That bright December morning on the East Wind Rain.
Crying, “Asia for Asians!”, we floated out of the sky over the harbor of pearls,
Like cherry blossom petals on the Kamikaze,
To slay the sleeping giant, honor our Emperor and our ancestors.
We ran wild over the Pacific for a year,
But Asia for the Japanese was not just.
For we had only awakened the giant,
Filling him with a terrible resolve.
Our Chiburi, blood falling like rain,
Was scattered across the jungles and atolls of the Pacific,
Leaving a trail for him to follow,
Back to the home islands.
We honored our Emperor and our ancestors,
But the giant brought with him the Whirlwind,
That burned shadows into the walls of Hiroshima and Nagasaki,
And changed the Divine Showa into a human being.

Mushotoku
By Richard Scott
© 1990 all rights reserved

08-07-07, 08:28 PM	#7
Ishmael Seasoned Skipper Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Morro Bay, Ca. Posts: 659 Downloads: 79 Uploads: 0	I've been busy preparing for the Randi Rhodes Air America Alaska Cruise we're leaving on Friday. I apologize for not commenting on this thread on Aug. 6 itself but I'm doing so now. First of all, here is the wiki link for Operation Downfall, the Allied Invasion of Japan: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_downfall I direct you to the specific section dealing with Kestugo Sakusen, the Japanese defensive plans. To those who think negotiations were working, I direct you to the Japanese High command's decision to fully mobilize the entire Japanese population for defense. Also remember that the Emperor was a God and obedience was a sacred duty to the Japanese people. The Japanese terms included continuity of the entire wartime government and possession of captured territories gained by aggressive war. These terms could never be accepted. If you read the link on the Japanese defense plans, you'll see they had 10,000 kamikaze planes held in reserve to specifically target troop ships including Ohka rocket bombs and jet aircraft being built with German jet technology. Also remember that the Soviet Union had entered the war with Japan and had plans to invade Hokkaido on August 15, 1945. Had the bombs not been used, the invasion force would have faced daunting, fanatical odds as the Japanese fought harder the closer you got to the home islands. Put yourself in Truman's shoes at the time. What would have been the result of an invasion disaster if it became known that he had a weapon that could have ended it early but did not use it? Now I have a nuclear weapons background and have participated in NWAI's(Nuclear Weapons Acceptance Inspections) needed for nuclear capable certification, annual NTPIs(Nuclear Technical Proficiency Inspections) and TSIs(Technical Surprise Inspections). I have also walked the streets of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during that time. I concur with Truman's decision and believe to this day that, by shortening the war, it saved Allied and Japanese lives in toto and saved the overall sovereignty of the Japanese nation. Had Hokkaido been occupied by the Soviets, do we seriously believe they would have relenquished that occupation? I said prayers and burned joss sticks for the souls of the dead yesterday and will do so again on Thursday for Nagasaki. So in closing, here is my poem that deals with my feelings on the matter: Mushotoku By Richard Scott The essence of One Cut, We climbed Mt. Niitaka, That bright December morning on the East Wind Rain. Crying, “Asia for Asians!”, we floated out of the sky over the harbor of pearls, Like cherry blossom petals on the Kamikaze, To slay the sleeping giant, honor our Emperor and our ancestors. We ran wild over the Pacific for a year, But Asia for the Japanese was not just. For we had only awakened the giant, Filling him with a terrible resolve. Our Chiburi, blood falling like rain, Was scattered across the jungles and atolls of the Pacific, Leaving a trail for him to follow, Back to the home islands. We honored our Emperor and our ancestors, But the giant brought with him the Whirlwind, That burned shadows into the walls of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, And changed the Divine Showa into a human being. Mushotoku By Richard Scott © 1990 all rights reserved