Reply #59: But the military men don't say when a war is over--tht's the politicians.

[eyepaddle]

Japan was finished utterly in 1945 by the extensive mining of their coastal waters--which was how they moved nearly all of the necessities of life--which they had been short of since before 1940. This is what the Admirals and Generals were talking about. Japan was BEATEN, but they didn't quit, in fact there was an attempted coup even after Hirohito had finally called it off.

Most of the Japanese governament wanted to keep their gains in China and Manchuria--something which to us was unacceptable.

Truman (who couldn't communcate unpleasant necessities with nearly the ability of FDR) did not have the luxury to wait until Japan came to its senses--he didn't have the stature to pull that off.

The Japanese were defeated, but they hadn't quit and Americans wanted that horrible war over NOW, and so the decision was made...