6th of August. Day of Hiroshima bombing.

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Salnax said:
First, I am sorry that thousands of innocent people died. The same applies to all comparable incidents, especially those caused by human violence.

Was it justifiable? I think it probably was. There are those who argue that a Japanese surrender was imminent, but to my knowledge, the intimidation tactics of Little Boy and Fat Man brought far less deaths than the invasion of Japan would have. If I remember correctly, the working assumption was that over 10 million Japanese would die in a country with under 75 million people total. Not to mention that Japan would have received a lot more damage to its infrastructure, making recovery far more difficult, and would likely have been partially conquered by the Soviet Union, much like East Germany.

A big recurring argument I've heard about atomic bombs is that unlike more conventional bombs, they harm people for years to come due to their radioactive effects. However, I don't think this was unique to atomic bombs. Land mines are less dramatic than nukes, but there are millions of those around the world left over from as early as 1914, which are still completely lethal.

I don't want any of this activity to happen, but this was not particularly reprehensible, at least to my knowledge.

I agree for the most part. 

 

OP: I'm an American, but I have spent many years learning history from different perspectives and views. 

 

WW2 is on my favorites to learn. 

 

With that said, I think it was 100% justified. You had a Japanese army with limitless mental fortitude. They would not have given in so easily had we invaded via frontal assault. 

 

We saved lives by taking lives. In no way am I excusing that we still killed many civilians. But, it could have been worse.

 

Drastic times do indeed call for drastic measures. I am a fan of "go hard or go home" mentality when it comes to war.

 

Either you attack with everything you go in order to end the war, or you don't attack at all. 

 

This pick and choose bullshit that has plagued America in Vietnam and now the middle east will be the death of us.