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Old 08-07-08, 04:22 PM   #6
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Stowaway
 
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Not convinced that race had any significance in the decision to drop the bomb and am sure that there would have been no hesitation on Pres. Truman's part to use it on Nazi Germany had it been required. Playing the race card in retrospect ignores the huge cultural gulf between the American and Japanese ways of warfare in WW2. One can forgive the American's for having open disdane for Japanese civilians since the advent of the Special Attack forces was pretty graphic evidence that the Japanese had little regard for their own people's lives. The horrific mass suicide of civilians on Saipan was ample proof (at the time) that civilians and soldiers were one and the same as far as the Japanese were concerned.

Why should US planners ignore the junta in Tokyo openly threatening to meet any invasion with "100-Million Bayonets" and school girls being trained to fight with bamboo spears? Adm Halsey's 1942 injunction to "Kill Japs, Kill Japs and Kill More Japs" made solid military sense as did the dehumanizing propaganda practiced on both sides. When faced with an enemy that is culturally predisposed to fight to the death your choices become kill them or quit. By Summer 1945, quitting was not an option for the USA.

There was ample bigotry on both sides but I do not think that it was a factor in the decision to use the Bomb. There were too many legitimate reasons for and few compelling arguments against employing it as they did.

"I believe that we must use any means possible to end this terrible War. Then we can all be friends."
attributed to MGen U.S. Grant, 1862
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