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Politics : Sharks in the Septic Tank -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: angelachase who wrote (40500)	12/5/2001 9:36:19 AM
From: Michael M	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 82486

You are entitled to your opinion. I accept it's sincerity but find it ridiculous. Our country bombed the Japanese to get them to stop waging war. The bombing prior to dropping the A-bomb did not accomplish that purpose. Use of the A-bomb did. What 70 percent of the Japanese people might have silently wished had no bearing on events. Without complete surrender by the leadership the other 30 percent would have perpetuated misery and "torture". Threats have very limited effectiveness, especially if made more than once. A "demo" bomb, IMO, would not have achieved immediate unconditional surrender. It would have demonstrated our reluctance to use the weapon. Well, we made it perfectly clear we had a device and were willing to use it.....and continue using it. The Japanese leadership were forced to face annihilation of "Japan" and chose another course. And, do not, for a second, discount the restraining effect that our willingness to go "all the way" had on the Soviets during the cold war. The two bombs we dropped on Japan probably saved the lives of MANY millions of non-combatants in addition to a huge number of military men (who have a right to expect victory and an end to hostilities if their leaders have the means).

To: angelachase who wrote (40500)	12/5/2001 3:51:15 PM
From: TimF	Respond to of 82486

It is said that 70 % of Japanese were prepared to surrender before the bombs were dropped. It is said that a naval blockade, together with the air control that was in place, would have brought the last of them to their knees. There were no American civilians at risk. Only brave American soldiers--fighting in uniform as military men. Lots of things are said. It doesn't mean they have to be true. Even if this was true the blockade and bombing would have caused a lot of suffering and death. The nuclear bombs where a shock to Japan. Conventional and incendiary bombing had allready casued more deaths and might have caused additional deaths greater then those from the A-bombs had we not dropped the bombs. Continued regular bombing would have meant continued death the blockade would probably have casused death as well. The A bombs provided the emotional shock needed to pus Japan in to surrendering. The same amount of people killed by conventional attack would have been just as dead but it would have taken more time and been less of a shock. Tim