eden

eden

[quote=mongo]Back in the seventies, I was in Japan and had the pleasure of talking to an elderly man that was scarred from the blast. He expressed to me that even though he would have liked to have seen a different end to the war, the bomb was the only alternative at the time. The Japanese had most of their young men so brainwashed on honor through death that the war would have d**gged on for years. (Similar to isis.) But he said the affect it had on the population was devastating, but gave the citizens the opportunity to band together to get out from under government s***ery, structure and rebuild their country. The war stopped quickly after the bombing, and even though there is still mourning of the dead, the country prospered. They where an extremely hostile country, putting all their wealth into their military in an attempt to control first asia, then the world. Since then, they have concentrated on their citizens and had received large contracts from the United States that brought them the income to rebuild.
Everyone has an opinion on what could have been and what should have been, but the country is flourishing since that time of war regardless of any theories about it.


[quote=mongo]Back in the seventies, I was in Japan and had the pleasure of talking to an elderly man that was scarred from the blast. He expressed to me that even though he would have liked to have seen a different end to the war, the bomb was the only alternative at the time. The Japanese had most of their young men so brainwashed on honor through death that the war would have d**gged on for years. (Similar to isis.) But he said the affect it had on the population was devastating, but gave the citizens the opportunity to band together to get out from under government s***ery, structure and rebuild their country. The war stopped quickly after the bombing, and even though there is still mourning of the dead, the country prospered. They where an extremely hostile country, putting all their wealth into their military in an attempt to control first asia, then the world. Since then, they have concentrated on their citizens and had received large contracts from the United States that brought them the income to rebuild.
Everyone has an opinion on what could have been and what should have been, but the country is flourishing since that time of war regardless of any theories about it.
SEMPER FI

Thank you for your thoughts. I made a point of not taking sides in that great debate in my original post, only alluded to the complexities that surrounded what must have been a painful decision. Most of the people who were involved from Oppenheimer on down were profoundly affected and unlike the victims who died in the bombing, had to live out their lives wondering if there could have been a better way.

Ricko Loc: Florida

[quote=eden][quote=mongo]Back in the seventies, I was in Japan and had the pleasure of talking to an elderly man that was scarred from the blast. He expressed to me that even though he would have liked to have seen a different end to the war, the bomb was the only alternative at the time. The Japanese had most of their young men so brainwashed on honor through death that the war would have d**gged on for years. (Similar to isis.) But he said the affect it had on the population was devastating, but gave the citizens the opportunity to band together to get out from under government s***ery, structure and rebuild their country. The war stopped quickly after the bombing, and even though there is still mourning of the dead, the country prospered. They where an extremely hostile country, putting all their wealth into their military in an attempt to control first asia, then the world. Since then, they have concentrated on their citizens and had received large contracts from the United States that brought them the income to rebuild.
Everyone has an opinion on what could have been and what should have been, but the country is flourishing since that time of war regardless of any theories about it.




mongo-it is interesting to note that both Hiroshima and Nagasaki are flourishing. Google both of those and compare them to Detroit -Then and Now !! Good Luck America !!!

eden

[quote=mongo]Back in the seventies, I was in Japan and had the pleasure of talking to an elderly man that was scarred from the blast. He expressed to me that even though he would have liked to have seen a different end to the war, the bomb was the only alternative at the time. The Japanese had most of their young men so brainwashed on honor through death that the war would have d**gged on for years. (Similar to isis.) But he said the affect it had on the population was devastating, but gave the citizens the opportunity to band together to get out from under government s***ery, structure and rebuild their country. The war stopped quickly after the bombing, and even though there is still mourning of the dead, the country prospered. They where an extremely hostile country, putting all their wealth into their military in an attempt to control first asia, then the world. Since then, they have concentrated on their citizens and had received large contracts from the United States that brought them the income to rebuild.
Everyone has an opinion on what could have been and what should have been, but the country is flourishing since that time of war regardless of any theories about it.
SEMPER FI


Thank you for your thoughtful post. I made a point of not taking sides in that great debate in my original post, only alluded to the complexities that surrounded what must have been a painful decision. Most of the people who were involved from Oppenheimer on down were profoundly affected and unlike the victims who died in the bombing, had to live out their lives wondering if there could have been a better way.

plainlogic

What I just learned from you, thank you, is: please go back to wh**ever country you came from.

Devastating a nation stopped the war that was costing lives on both sides. IT NEEDED TO STOP! The Bomb did just that.
If your weak and sniveling, a bully will eventually cause you a problem, you need to stand proud and strong !

As far as brain washing? you're right! It sounds though, you're a recipient of said washing, kudos to your educators.

crazylibertarian Loc: Florida by way of New York & Rhode Island

Although my oldest brother had enlisted after Pearl Harbor & was assigned to the Offie of Strategic Services in the European Theater, by the time I became aware of such things in the mid 1950s, my parents expressed horror and opposition to the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. They were also opposed by Dwight D. EIsenhower and Douglas MacArthur not to mention Harry Truman's Chief of Staff, Adm. Patrick Leahy who opposed it because he doubted they would work. Those are formidable opponents.

Truman, for his part, changed his justification at different times over the years after. He was a man who was contemptuous of just about everyone, especially military figures, and those who disagreed with him. For confirmation, read Merle Miller's oral history Plain Speaking (or Talking) where just about everyone he mentions is a dirty-rotten-no-good-son-of-a-b***h. As I read the published excerpts and even some of the book years after its publication, I asked who wasn't a dirty rotten no good son of a b***h to him? Typical for a progressive.

Lewrockwell.com regularly publishes about the decision and from everything I've read there & elsewhere, the estimates of hundred of thousands of dead on both sides is wildly exaggerated. Thirty to forty thousand seems to me most frequent. What can not be debated is that Japan, months earlier had made known through the diplomatic grapevine that they wanted to surrender but with the condition that they could keep their emperor. Truman demanded unconditional surrender. They surrendered and kept their emperor. No matter though for I believe the worst peace is almost always better than the most principled war.

They could easily have dropped a demonstrator on one of the nearby uninhabited islands. Opponents of that idea scoff with the rejoinder that we'd have looked like fools if it hadn't worked and, anyway, Nagasaki was necessary before they surrendered. So? That question would have been answered.

Truman & MacArthur went on to their historic confrontation during the Korean War which has also been distorted by liberal historians. Forgotten has been the fact that one of the chief reasons was that MacArthur responded directly to a congressional inquiry wherein he gave his opinion. Truman, true to form, was incensed that MacArthur would dare to voice disagreement with his omniscience.

As to WWII in general, I long ago concluded (and please note it is my opinion to which I am entitled) was fought to save Stalin because the White House was shot through, from top to bottom, with Soviet sympathizers, not the least of whom was FDR's wife, the redoubtable Eleanor and people like Alger Hiss, Harry Hopkins and many others.

plainlogic

Of course Truman had his poorer moments, he entered into sending troops into Korea and of course we know how that turned out; he had problems within military ranks, simply, because he let them know he was in charge of foreign policies and not them, he dismissed 'em when they went against him and his policies..

Like with many POTUS's a few will find disdain with them, but that's politics and policies. Of course some POTUS's have gone too far, as is, the case with this administration.

Yeah, Roosevelt, with his own brand of doing business, leaves everything up to the historians to write the reviews. Something I might add, is, precisely what historians will do with OBAMA.

However, in the case of the A-Bomb, there will always be the pros and cons as to the dropping of the device producing the end result.

fidelis

I can only say IF THERE WAS NO PEARL HARBOR THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO HIROSHIMA OR NAGASAKI Obama who has no shame should beg forgiveness from the families of those lost in WW2 fighting this brutal enemy.

THUNDERBOLT

My Dad served in WW2...Navy...
His comment to me was, "We will
never stop the kamikaze pilots."
Kinda like today and suicide bombers.
Just sayin'...
THUNDERBOLT

Carol Kelly

Maybe the old man was explaining how few lives were lost in comparison to the number of lives saved on all sides. I lived in Japan for three years and spent a lot of time traveling around. I never met a Japanese person who openly blamed America. I felt then and still feel that we did (Harry) did the best thing for everyone concerned. I don't care what our
shady half breed,i***tic mouthpiece says and don't intend to hear it. I'll bet I'm not alone.

Mr Shako Loc: Colo Spgs

Correction. We were not "occupied fighting in Europe" at the time of 7 Dec 1941. It is true we were in a "shooting war" w/ the Doenitz's U-boats in the N. Atlantic from the winter of 1940 forward.

crazylibertarian Loc: Florida by way of New York & Rhode Island

Fine but the attack on Pearl Harbor was anticipated by the FDR adminstration. They did all they could to provoke Japan. It's all been laid out numerous times by supporters and opponents of FDR. There's a neat little summary by John Flynn in The FDR Myth. I've read others.. The rumors started almost immediately that the White House knew the attack was coming & my parents were convinced they knew & even planned the provocation with the goal of an attack.

Carol Kelly

crazylibertarian Loc: Florida by way of New York & Rhode Island

Were there no Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt, there might never have been a Pearl Harbor.

Carol Kelly

It didn't totally devastate that nation. It freed them to grow and how they've grown! They're good people. I liked all I knew.