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In reply to the discussion: An overlooked A-bomb issue: the wait-a-couple-weeks argument [View all]Bucky
(53,805 posts)11. A few more incorrect statements from this thread
The cause was not a pretense. Japanese fascist policies were not morally equal to American economic preeminence in the Pacific
There was nothing moot about completing the defeat of Japan. To have left Japan unconquered would have led to the triumph of the militarist party--which would mean a certain later war with a fascist Japan--and a thorough discrediting of the Peace Party factions in Japan. It would also lead to a probable Soviet domination of all, rather than half, of Korea.
I don't think you appreciate the relative lack of options a leader has in war. Either you go for a complete win or you face further atrocities and compounded violence further down the road. If Iraq taught us anything, it showed that you don't fight half wars. Of course WW2 was a war we didn't have a choice about fighting, but that's a different tragedy.
I don't defend the racism on the US or Japanese side of the war. But I think any view of Soviet human rights policies under Stalin thoroughly justifies the hatred of left wing totalitarianism. There are quotes in Racing the Enemy, the book cited below (available online), that very clearly stipulate a desire to save Japanese as well as Americans, and the liberty of Japanese as well as their lives.
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heaven forfend that we should discuss possible alternatives in such a horrific event.
niyad
Aug 2013
#3
Rape of Nanking. Heaven forbid that we should discuss possible alternatives in
Nanjing to Seoul
Aug 2013
#14
is it so hard to understand that the possible alternatives discussion reference should have happened
niyad
Aug 2013
#31
The world had gone through WWI and now less than thirty years later was engulfed in another war
Fumesucker
Aug 2013
#9
The targeting documents are dry reading, like most military documents, but are available
ConcernedCanuk
Aug 2013
#60
I appreciate that you're not echoing the tired "save American lives" meme, but....
Jim Lane
Aug 2013
#25
Thanks for responding. I've based my arguments on primary sources, hence contradictions.
Bucky
Aug 2013
#36
I have often wondered what the ramifications of waiting for a Soviet invasion were
Lee-Lee
Aug 2013
#34
Sure, wait the additional time if you know that yet another powerful nation will declare war.
Jim Lane
Aug 2013
#38
Regardless - the indiscriminate slaughter and maiming of tens of thousands with one bomb is amoral
ConcernedCanuk
Aug 2013
#66