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slackmaster

(60,567 posts)

62. OK, it was necessary to prove that the gun-design Uranium bomb actually detonated, and...

Tue Jul 31, 2012, 08:39 PM

Jul 2012

...that both it and the implosion Plutonium bomb, which had been successfully detonated in New Mexico, could be delivered successfully by air against an actual enemy during an actual war.

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Was the use of the atomic bomb against Japan justified? [View all] taterguy Jul 2012 OP

Nuke Week is next week, taterguy. This is Olympic Spoiler Week. slackmaster Jul 2012 #1

I might be busy next week taterguy Jul 2012 #3

When is "Bataan Death March" and "Rape of Nanking" week? -..__... Jul 2012 #18

... BOG PERSON Jul 2012 #20

Japanese leaders did not believe the reports coming from Hirsoshima. vinny9698 Aug 2012 #109

It really doesn't make a bit of difference in the world now 1-Old-Man Jul 2012 #2

those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it grasswire Jul 2012 #28

Crap. There goes the week after next. Igel Jul 2012 #32

That's a new answer - and a good one jberryhill Jul 2012 #78

"Please don't repeat any arguments from last year." Dreamer Tatum Jul 2012 #4

I think that was the OP's point (nt) Jeff In Milwaukee Jul 2012 #8

Yes. The choice of target was not justified. Warpy Jul 2012 #5

Actually they were chosen because WolverineDG Jul 2012 #9

Why Hiroshima and Nagasaki were military targets sarisataka Jul 2012 #16

Did it star Timothy Olyphant as Deputy Marshall Raylan Givens? Electric Monk Jul 2012 #6

+1 Glassunion Jul 2012 #52

Very good! dixiegrrrrl Aug 2012 #179

In 1945............. mrmpa Jul 2012 #7

This message was self-deleted by its author VOX Jul 2012 #60

If this isn't the question of questions Taverner Jul 2012 #10

I think they tried to do the best they could. MissMarple Jul 2012 #11

Good answer. hifiguy Aug 2012 #117

I can honestly say that I would not have wanted to be a part of Truman's circle then Taverner Aug 2012 #122

Yes thelordofhell Jul 2012 #12

What is needed to justify it? malthaussen Jul 2012 #13

Nagasaki is debatable sarisataka Jul 2012 #23

Well, it's all debateable. malthaussen Jul 2012 #27

With the soviets in the war any delay meant more territory in their sphere JVS Jul 2012 #46

In a matter of days? I think not. malthaussen Jul 2012 #49

Will an attack nuculular or otherwise against Iran be justified? Whether it saves 100 lives or 2on2u Jul 2012 #14

Obama won't do it. Of that I'm confident. He knows better. HopeHoops Jul 2012 #15

Yes and no. Yes because they attacked us at Pearl Harbor. RebelOne Jul 2012 #17

I'm pretty sure Pearl Harbor was invoked last year taterguy Jul 2012 #19

In any case, "revenge" is the weakest argument bhikkhu Jul 2012 #38

That was the reason for my no answer. n/t RebelOne Jul 2012 #58

Well it's not like there's a lot of new data coming out every year 4th law of robotics Aug 2012 #168

I know one guy who thought it was. trof Jul 2012 #21

Had a friend who said something similar. Igel Jul 2012 #33

There ya go. trof Jul 2012 #35

It does matter more to some on a personal level davidpdx Aug 2012 #107

And after niceguy Jul 2012 #56

I used to know a few men like that. They have all passed away. slackmaster Aug 2012 #110

My dad was one of those infantrymen who was going to invade Japan. neverforget Aug 2012 #142

Wonder how many people we know, and people on DU, would not be here? trof Aug 2012 #143

The chances are we wouldn't be here, but then again, we wouldn't know the difference. neverforget Aug 2012 #146

After the first bomb, a little more time could have been given. Incitatus Aug 2012 #182

I agree with that /nt Bragi Aug 2012 #188

Is it that time of year already? Canuckistanian Jul 2012 #22

No SOS Jul 2012 #24

This message was self-deleted by its author BOG PERSON Jul 2012 #25

NO! Nukes are NEVER the answer. EVER. JaneyVee Jul 2012 #26

Ok Reasonable_Argument Jul 2012 #50

Exactly metalbot Jul 2012 #85

Nukes are different. Radiation poisoning adds un-conventional to conventional. ieoeja Aug 2012 #127

Yes. JVS Jul 2012 #29

Nope n/t arcane1 Jul 2012 #30

Yes. The war was over in Europe and my father's... meaculpa2011 Jul 2012 #31

The thing is the Japanese likely were defeated even before the bombs fell. Selatius Jul 2012 #36

they would have killed all the POWs grasswire Jul 2012 #41

They were already killing POWs and performing grotesque medical experiments on them. Selatius Aug 2012 #94

Half the cabinet didn't want to surrender Confusious Jul 2012 #47

But they didn't matter as much as the opinion of Emperor Hirohito. Selatius Aug 2012 #95

Contrary to popular knowledge Confusious Aug 2012 #98

The thing about the Shogunate era. Selatius Aug 2012 #100

There is a difference sarisataka Jul 2012 #71

They could have at least given them a little more time before dropping the second one. nt Incitatus Jul 2012 #34

They only had two but wanted to give the impression that they had an endless supply Motown_Johnny Jul 2012 #37

Precisely Sherman A1 Aug 2012 #102

They were given an ultimatum, if I remember correctly. trof Jul 2012 #43

This should be in the gungeon, Francis. nt madinmaryland Jul 2012 #39

The alert button is your friend taterguy Jul 2012 #40

Lighten up, Francis! The "trash" button works for me! madinmaryland Jul 2012 #44

I don't see why not... -..__... Jul 2012 #45

Yes Reasonable_Argument Jul 2012 #42

It Was Necessary, Sir The Magistrate Jul 2012 #48

Yyyyyyyep. cherokeeprogressive Jul 2012 #51

no 2Design Jul 2012 #53

Before you answer..... doohnibor Jul 2012 #54

I have to watch a two hour movie before I can answer? taterguy Jul 2012 #57

Yes, you do doohnibor Aug 2012 #108

No it was not Justified. Japan was losing the war and was ready for surrender rustydog Jul 2012 #55

Even after two A-bombs dropped, the Imperial Council was tied on whether or not to continue the war OmahaBlueDog Jul 2012 #59

Absolutely, no argument. n/t bbinacan Jul 2012 #61

OK, it was necessary to prove that the gun-design Uranium bomb actually detonated, and... slackmaster Jul 2012 #62

Battle of Okinawa 4/1/45-6/21/45: Estimated 150,000-250,000 total deaths VOX Jul 2012 #63

Oh they would have invaded sarisataka Jul 2012 #74

They were already using backchannels to negotiate a surrender jberryhill Jul 2012 #79

No. It was a war crime perpetrated for political reasons. Tierra_y_Libertad Jul 2012 #64

There were no Japanese troops remaining in the China theater in the summer of '45? Marengo Aug 2012 #144

The Soviets crushed them quite handily in '45. Tierra_y_Libertad Aug 2012 #147

The Soviets crushed the Kwantung Army in Manzhouguo, not the entire Japanese presence in China Marengo Aug 2012 #150

They were done for. They had no supplies, no transport, no ability to go on the offensive. Tierra_y_Libertad Aug 2012 #155

Over a million soldiers under arms "posed no threat" to those... Marengo Aug 2012 #174

Forget what we know now, and put yourself in Harry Truman's shoes, for a moment. OmahaBlueDog Jul 2012 #65

This is the most persuasive post in this thread. Nye Bevan Jul 2012 #69

Also underestimated sarisataka Jul 2012 #75

Thank you. emilyg Aug 2012 #89

Very succinct and IMO accurate assessment of Truman's POV slackmaster Aug 2012 #163

It's quite possible that, if the U.S. had detonated the two bombs on unpopulated islands zbdent Jul 2012 #66

It's more likely that japan wouldn't have even noticed such a demonstration. Angleae Aug 2012 #96

And if that didn't impress, did we have any more bombs to drop? nt JustABozoOnThisBus Aug 2012 #129

Goddamrightitwas. /eom Zanzoobar Jul 2012 #67

Absolutely not. Japan was beaten with no oil left. Bonobo Jul 2012 #68

Same damn thing was posted in 2009 taterguy Jul 2012 #70

They didn't have to win battles sharp_stick Jul 2012 #76

You argued my point quite well. Bonobo Jul 2012 #77

Would it have been better to starve them to death? sharp_stick Jul 2012 #80

The question is whether or not dropping nukes on Hiroshima and Nagasaki was justified. Bonobo Jul 2012 #81

Perhaps I have moved off topic a bit sharp_stick Aug 2012 #112

War by starvation..... PavePusher Aug 2012 #137

By the same criteria, the Taliban, PLO, Hamas, AQ, etc... TheMadMonk Aug 2012 #86

The argument that the bombs were dropped to save Japanese kids from starving Bonobo Aug 2012 #87

Our behaviour WRT Africa, the Middle East and large chunks of SE Asia... TheMadMonk Aug 2012 #91

We should have just left the embargo for years until they caved 4th law of robotics Aug 2012 #124

Hell NO!!! nt nanabugg Jul 2012 #72

I vote for Option #2. Ikonoklast Jul 2012 #73

Yes. Because Truman was a democrat and if you criticize him Sarah Palin will win. Puregonzo1188 Jul 2012 #82

Sounds strangely familiar (nt) shaayecanaan Aug 2012 #178

This message was self-deleted by its author devilgrrl Jul 2012 #83

Sorry, that argument was used in 2007 taterguy Aug 2012 #105

HELL NO, it was not justified. Th1onein Jul 2012 #84

Not true, Th1onein catbyte Aug 2012 #151

I guess I learned a different version of history in college? Th1onein Aug 2012 #156

This may come as a shock, but UnrepentantLiberal Aug 2012 #160

That could be said about any statement, but Th1onein Aug 2012 #162

Fair enough. UnrepentantLiberal Aug 2012 #164

Interesting. Eisenhower was right about this, as well. Th1onein Aug 2012 #165

NO!!!!!!!! davekriss Aug 2012 #88

Cool! I haven't used this for awhile! bluedigger Aug 2012 #90

i cannot, as christian arely staircase Aug 2012 #92

Yes justified kwolf68 Aug 2012 #93

I have been studying this, this year grasswire Aug 2012 #97

Bushido, was already in the form Confusious Aug 2012 #99

so are you saying that the bushido code prior to 20th century... grasswire Aug 2012 #101

It was what it was Confusious Aug 2012 #113

Japan also practiced genocide on the Asian mainland, killing 10,000,000 civilians. nt Romulox Aug 2012 #118

I think that is something you need to ask WW2 Vets! B Calm Aug 2012 #103

Okay, modern Japan exists because surrender came quickly. Pholus Aug 2012 #104

Was it any more or less justified than the firebombing of Tokyo and other cities? hobbit709 Aug 2012 #106

Of Course! beemer27 Aug 2012 #111

simply put, we would have used atomic bombs during the invasion as well.. Javaman Aug 2012 #114

Before forming any opinion, I encourage anybody to watch the movie Downtown Hound Aug 2012 #115

No. JonLP24 Aug 2012 #116

Since American lives were, at the time, more valuable than Japanese lives: Yes. Grave Grumbler Aug 2012 #119

Welcome to Du. Why do you say Am lives > Japanese lives? And how about now, looking uppityperson Aug 2012 #120

Because we were at war. When one is at war, the lives of your enemies are less valuable than Grave Grumbler Aug 2012 #123

And now, looking back, was it justified? uppityperson Aug 2012 #126

Yes. Grave Grumbler Aug 2012 #132

From the point of view of American military planners American lives *ought* to be worth more 4th law of robotics Aug 2012 #125

They started it. closeupready Aug 2012 #121

Used in almost every damn thread about the subject taterguy Aug 2012 #149

We wanted to see if it would really work. UnrepentantLiberal Aug 2012 #159

Yes FBaggins Aug 2012 #128

Thankfully, we didn't wait until "talk like a pirate" day JustABozoOnThisBus Aug 2012 #130

and WHY ARE WE WASTING MONEY SENDING ROBOTS TO MARS??!?!?!?!?! Warren DeMontague Aug 2012 #131

Wordings of the leaflets dropped on Hiroshima & Nagasaki on Aug 1st-1945 EX500rider Aug 2012 #133

So? taterguy Aug 2012 #134

never actually seen a leaflet from the sky.. EX500rider Aug 2012 #135

And how were these folks supposed to evacuate? taterguy Aug 2012 #136

Seriously? Have you never been in an emergency situation? PavePusher Aug 2012 #138

A few pairs of Nikes could have saved a lot of lives that day taterguy Aug 2012 #139

"And how were these folks supposed to evacuate?" EX500rider Aug 2012 #140

You are assuming the population had complete freedom of movement Marengo Aug 2012 #180

I'd pay attention if it were dropped by foreign bombers in the middle of a massive war 4th law of robotics Aug 2012 #167

Is dropping nuclear weapons on any country, killing thousands of innocent people, ever justified? Alduin Aug 2012 #141

Yes EX500rider Aug 2012 #145

My father was on his way to invade the Japenese Mainland. UnrepentantLiberal Aug 2012 #148

Ditto, UnrepentantLiberal catbyte Aug 2012 #152

He was on a ship headed there, if I remember right. UnrepentantLiberal Aug 2012 #157

We weren't there niceguy Aug 2012 #153

The Americans Were Already Tiring Of The War DemocratSinceBirth Aug 2012 #154

Objectively speaking, no action is justified. ZombieHorde Aug 2012 #158

Well I'm sure glad that's settled. Scuba Aug 2012 #161

We probably killed 100X more Japanese civilians by fire / carpet bombing. Dash87 Aug 2012 #166

I think... Snoozin Aug 2012 #169

Dammit... Texasgal Aug 2012 #170

Shark Week @ Olive Garden with pitbulls and Hugo Chavez!! n/t EX500rider Aug 2012 #171

I avoid shark week taterguy Aug 2012 #172

A very interesting podcast lecture about this ... Kablooie Aug 2012 #173

Absolutely justified - lynne Aug 2012 #175

When you start a war, you don't get a say in how it ends. aquart Aug 2012 #176

According to the Hague Convention on the Rules of War... shaayecanaan Aug 2012 #177

Second guessing is easy 70 years later. moondust Aug 2012 #181

Post removed Post removed Aug 2012 #183

Thanks for opening that can of worms. Spacer125 Aug 2012 #184

Happy to Help! taterguy Aug 2012 #186

No... Kalidurga Aug 2012 #185

The Stakes Weren't As High DemocratSinceBirth Aug 2012 #189

Not the same thing. Kalidurga Aug 2012 #190

They were considered... Javaman Aug 2012 #191

No cpwm17 Aug 2012 #187