Hiroshima

[bradclark1]

Because a lot more lives would have been lost in an invasion than in the bombing. It was the right thing to do. Not a happy event but fact.

[Onkel Neal]

Originally Posted by bradclark1

Because a lot more lives would have been lost in an invasion than in the bombing. It was the right thing to do. Not a happy event but fact.

Agreed. It was necessary, but not something we should celebrate.

[Letum]

Originally Posted by Neal Stevens

Agreed. It was necessary, but not something we should celebrate.

But there was no need to drop the bomb OR invade!
A peace agreement, not at all dissimilar to the post war agreements, was well within reach before the Bomb.
So how can it be necessary?

[Reaves]

Originally Posted by Letum

But there was no need to drop the bomb OR invade!
A peace agreement, not at all dissimilar to the post war agreements, was well within reach before the Bomb.
So how can it be necessary?

But would the Japan of today be the same if the bomb wasn't dropped? Imperial Japan was a lot differant then the modern Japan i'd love to go on holiday to.

Don't forget the Germans surrendered once as well... A cease fire is a means for the nations involved to re-supply front lines and prepare for more war.

Either way 'could haves' over something that happened 60 years ago don't really seem right.

[Von Tonner]

I think the most compelling argument in favour of the decision to go the 'atomic bomb' route was that it took two. Any sane foe would have immediately surrendered after the devastation of the first and after having its bluff called in that the USA would not use it. Terrible as it was, that decision by the USA has echoed down history and IMHO made the world safer from a third world war. Think of Cuba and the Soviet Union wanting to place nuclear missiles on that island. I would argue that when the the USA again threatened use of nuclear weapons the Soviets backed down because the threat from the USA had to be taken seriously.

So yes, I feel for the civilians of the time but the bigger picture tells me it was the right decision.

[Biggles]

I've always thought in the same direction. WE have to remember folks, that the two bombs over Japan is the only ones that have been used in war. Why? Well, beats me, but one of the reasons must be that the entire world (and their leaders) are scared, very very very scared of what they'll start if they use a bomb, and now when the nukes are so much more devestating than the "Little Boy" and the "Fat Man", we really need to be catious. (That means you, North Korea).

[HunterICX]

I red this yesterday , kinda was a bit disgusted about how this thread started

but about ''invasion, the Bombing, the Ceasefire etc etc''
the Bombs have been dropped , it happend that way and no way we can ever change that.
for what reason? well, many we say.
but yesterday we had to remind that we never ever should use those weapons again. as the horror of it is too terrible to describe.

HunterICX

[August]

Originally Posted by Neal Stevens

Agreed. It was necessary, but not something we should celebrate.

Here in Rhode Island VJ day is still a holiday but that's a bit different.

Oh, but you are a number, former Number Six. I am now the ONE without a number.
Be Seeing You, Number One!