I don't care how you justify the attack. It was, and still is, the largest terrorist attack on a foreign country. Period. And it was directly against civilians - no military bases.
Truman was president barely two weeks when this decision was dropped on him. I think the cost (to both America and Japan) of another D-Day on Honshu and Hokkaido would have been astronomical, and the cost of having a Kim il-Sung ruling a united Korea (which is what would have happened had the Russians had time to invade) would have been, for the South Koreans, as bad as it has been for the North Koreans. It would have been the right decision... -But one that would never allow me a good night's sleep again.
I don't care how you justify the attack. It was, and still is, the largest terrorist attack on a foreign country. Period. And it was directly against civilians - no military bases.
Truman was president barely two weeks when this decision was dropped on him. I think the cost (to both America and Japan) of another D-Day on Honshu and Hokkaido would have been astronomical, and the cost of having a Kim il-Sung ruling a united Korea (which is what would have happened had the Russians had time to invade) would have been, for the South Koreans, as bad as it has been for the North Koreans. It would have been the right decision... -But one that would never allow me a good night's sleep again.
This is an international community, and Hiroshima is still a sensitive issue to many. I would be amiss to forget that.
i like the gentle way you approach things...