WOW! WWII, why we needed to drop 2 A-bombs, facts you did not learn in school.

[rambone]

There's nothing more unAmerican than questioning the deaths of 200,000 innocent civilians.

 

[HoughMade]

There is nothing inherently heroic in sitting back, 60+ years later and assuming one is oh-so more moral than the men who actually had to make these decisions.

People can question whatever they want, but it's obvious that with this issue truth is less of a goal than is perpetuating the notion that Truman must have been wrong.....because our parents and grandparents thought he was right......and we are so much more "enlightened" than they....I read it on the internet.

 

[rambone]

The American leaflets that were dropped did not warn the Japanese civilians that a new type of bomb would literally level the city. They expected conventional warfare and did not take the American propaganda seriously. In fact, they would be arrested for reading it. The leaflets also did not name Hiroshima as a potential target, meaning that there was no effort to minimize the civilian death count.


Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For several months, the US had dropped more than 63 million leaflets across Japan, warning civilians of air raids. Many Japanese cities suffered terrible damage from aerial bombings, some even 97% destruction. In general, the Japanese regarded the leaflet messages as truthful, however, anyone who was caught in possession of a leaflet was arrested by the Japanese government. Leaflet texts were prepared by recent Japanese prisoners of war because they were thought to be the best choice "to appeal to their compatriots."

In preparation for dropping an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, US military leaders had decided against a demonstration bomb, and they also decided against a special leaflet warning, in both cases because of the uncertainty of a successful detonation, and the wish to maximize psychological shock. No warning was given to Hiroshima that a new and much more destructive bomb was going to be dropped. Various history books give conflicting information about when the last leaflets were dropped on Hiroshima prior to the atomic bomb: Robert Jay Lifton writes that it was 27 July and Theodore H. McNelly writes that it was 30 July but the USAAF history notes 11 cities targeted with leaflets on 27 July, none being Hiroshima, and no leaflet sorties on 30 July. Other leaflet sorties were undertaken on 1 and 4 August, according to the official USAAF chronology. It is very likely that Hiroshima was leafleted in late July or early August, as survivor accounts talk about a delivery of leaflets a few days before the atomic bomb was dropped. One such leaflet lists 12 cities targeted for firebombing: Otaru, Akita, Hachinohe, Fukushima, Urawa, Takayama, Iwakuni, Tottori, Imabari, Yawata, Miyakonojo, and Saga. Hiroshima was not listed.
​

 

[CarmelHP]

The American leaflets that were dropped did not warn the Japanese civilians that a new type of bomb would literally level the city. They expected conventional warfare and did not take the American propaganda seriously. In fact, they would be arrested for reading it. The leaflets also did not name Hiroshima as a potential target, meaning that there was no effort to minimize the civilian death count.


Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For several months, the US had dropped more than 63 million leaflets across Japan, warning civilians of air raids. Many Japanese cities suffered terrible damage from aerial bombings, some even 97% destruction. In general, the Japanese regarded the leaflet messages as truthful, however, anyone who was caught in possession of a leaflet was arrested by the Japanese government. Leaflet texts were prepared by recent Japanese prisoners of war because they were thought to be the best choice "to appeal to their compatriots."

In preparation for dropping an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, US military leaders had decided against a demonstration bomb, and they also decided against a special leaflet warning, in both cases because of the uncertainty of a successful detonation, and the wish to maximize psychological shock. No warning was given to Hiroshima that a new and much more destructive bomb was going to be dropped. Various history books give conflicting information about when the last leaflets were dropped on Hiroshima prior to the atomic bomb: Robert Jay Lifton writes that it was 27 July and Theodore H. McNelly writes that it was 30 July but the USAAF history notes 11 cities targeted with leaflets on 27 July, none being Hiroshima, and no leaflet sorties on 30 July. Other leaflet sorties were undertaken on 1 and 4 August, according to the official USAAF chronology. It is very likely that Hiroshima was leafleted in late July or early August, as survivor accounts talk about a delivery of leaflets a few days before the atomic bomb was dropped. One such leaflet lists 12 cities targeted for firebombing: Otaru, Akita, Hachinohe, Fukushima, Urawa, Takayama, Iwakuni, Tottori, Imabari, Yawata, Miyakonojo, and Saga. Hiroshima was not listed.
​

So, because the actual technical aspects of the bombing being warned about were not spelled out in meticulous detail, and the Japanese government prohibited possession of the warnings anyway, it is the Allies and the U.S. that is to blame? Do you try to come up with wacky assertions just to see who blinks?

 

[lucky4034]

Everything I've read about the Nagasaki drop, including the accounts by "Bachs Car"'s crew says they diverted from Kyoto because of cloud cover and hit their secondary target, Nagasaki. Where in the world did you get YOUR information?

Classified... If I told you... lets just say you don't want to know.

 

[lucky4034]

they basically started it

Basically They started it in a George Zimmerman type of way... or a Trayvon Martin type of way?

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

Self-righteous Monday morning from those who benefit from the hard decisions men had to make.

It's nice to never actually have to do something of consequence. It makes judging men of action all the more easy.

Yep and I pray that nobody will be faced with some of the same decisions, especially on the scale(s), scope, and impact, ever again.

 

[Jerchap2]

Did you know that Kyoto, not Nagasaki was supposed to be on the receiving end of the "Fat Man"?

Why was there a change in plans you ask? Because the Secretary of War at the time had his honeymoon years earlier in Kyoto and had sentimental value to the city?

Just like that, one man got to play god with the lives of hundreds of thousands of people!

In the video, Whittle states that weather conditions over Kyoto caused the bomber to change to the secondary target.

 

[lucky4034]

In the video, Whittle states that weather conditions over Kyoto caused the bomber to change to the secondary target.

Does he say Kyoto or Kokura? You gentleman should check your history... or your hearing

 

[Jerchap2]

Does he say Kyoto or Kokura? You gentleman should check your history... or your hearing

Yes, it was Kokura. I stand corrected.

 

[steveh_131]

This is kind of interesting.

Annihilating two entire cities is 'just war'.

Annihilating two skyscrapers is 'terrorism'.

 

[lucky4034]

Yes, it was Kokura. I stand corrected.

No worries... so does Blackhawk and a few others on here

The original target list did not have Nagasaki on it, but rather Kyoto. When proposed the Secretary of War removed Kyoto because he admired its history... and because he went on his honeymoon there. Nagasaki took its place.

Imagine trying to explain that to your wife? lol

"Hey honey... remember that beautiful temple that we visited on our honeymoon? ... Well, I just blew it the hell up... Love ya!"

 

[cobber]

So, because the actual technical aspects of the bombing being warned about were not spelled out in meticulous detail, and the Japanese government prohibited possession of the warnings anyway, it is the Allies and the U.S. that is to blame? Do you try to come up with wacky assertions just to see who blinks?

The only thing better than Monday-morning quarterbacking is Tuesday-morning quarterbacking of the Monday-morning quarterbacks. Twice removed from the decision-making process.

Innocent civilians died in the conventional bombings. Had it not been for the A-bombs, lots more would have died not to mention Japanese combatants and American soldiers as well.

I find greater carnage in the stead of the use of two atomic bombs to be a dubiously principled position.

 

[lucky4034]

This is kind of interesting.

Annihilating two entire cities is 'just war'.

Annihilating two skyscrapers is 'terrorism'.

Well... thats different. We started it, basically.

 

[DragonGunner]

The Fog of War


The fog of War - Lesson 5 HQ (?????) - YouTube...

 

[HoughMade]

This is kind of interesting.

Annihilating two entire cities is 'just war'.

Annihilating two skyscrapers is 'terrorism'.

...let no one mistake this for insight.

 

[indiucky]

This is kind of interesting.

Annihilating two entire cities is 'just war'.

Annihilating two skyscrapers is 'terrorism'.

If you find that interesting you must find paint drying absolutely riveting.

If you don't understand the difference between the events of 9/11 and the dropping of the Atomic bombs on Japan, a Nation that we were formally at war with, then I suggest you spend less time with Howard Zinn, Michael Moore, Rosie ODonnell and their ilk and more time with a History book. Good luck in your search for truth.

 

[steveh_131]

There is nothing inherently heroic in sitting back, 60+ years later and assuming one is oh-so more moral than the men who actually had to make these decisions.

^ Your post

The first to speak seems right, until someone comes and cross-examines." - Proverbs 18:17

^ Your sig

Just doing some cross-examination.

 

[Redhorse]

Well don't like Ike fool ya, he had plans to drop h-(not a) bombs on Russia and china during the Korean War.

 

[Hookeye]

We used some new technology, the bad guys surrendered, we won.
Sounds like a pretty good call to me.


Considering the drawn out BS or the newer conflicts maybe we should start using them again.