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Pastimes : Kosovo

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To: Broken_Clock who wrote (4276)4/18/1999 9:46:00 AM
From: D. Long   of 17770
 
<<Was an invasion of Japan even justified? They had no oil, their navy was decimated, the Empire of the Sun was humiliated. Another year of simple oil starvation by way of embargo would mosyt likely have left them begging for any settlement...without playing the nuke card>>

A blockade of Japan was discussed as a serious option. However, there were three reasons not to take this route.

1.) it would have drawn the war out for another year. There was tremendous pressure to get our boys back home and put an end to WWII.

2.) Drawing out the war would have given the USSR time to enter the conflict in earnest. Not only was the prospect of Russians in China unappatizing, but the idea of Russians in Japan was intolerable.

3.) It was not apparent that even total oil starvation would have made the Japanese capitulate.

You underestimate the fanaticism of the Japanese, who believed the Emperor was a god and were willing to commit suicide in his name. The fact that despite having been driven back across the Pacific and having their navy totally destroyed they continued to make preparations for a continued frenzied defense of the Empire shows their resolve. They no doubt would have fought us with bamboo sticks if nothing else was left.
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