Was the use of the atomic bomb against Japan justified?

[Javaman]

114. simply put, we would have used atomic bombs during the invasion as well..

3 more were in the works and were to be ready by november of '45 for the general invasion of Japan in Operation Downfall.

There are several books out there derived from the actual plans.

so the whole point of whether we should have used them or not is moot.

They were going to be used either way.

I have read extensively on Operation Downfall.

Here is the wiki link for grins...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Downfall

"On Marshall's orders, Major General John E. Hull looked into the tactical use of nuclear weapons for the invasion of the Japanese home islands (even after the dropping of two strategic atomic bombs on Japan, Marshall did not think that the Japanese would capitulate immediately). Colonel Lyle E. Seeman reported that at least seven bombs would be available by X-Day, which could be dropped on defending forces. Seeman advised that American troops not enter an area hit by a bomb for "at least 48 hours"; the risk of nuclear fallout was not well understood, and such a short amount of time after detonation would have resulted in substantial radiation exposure for the American troops.[34]

Ken Nichols, the District Engineer of the Manhattan Engineer District, wrote that at the beginning of August 1945, "[p]lanning for the invasion of the main Japanese home islands had reached its final stages, and if the landings actually took place, we might supply about fifteen atomic bombs to support the troops."[35] An air burst 1,800–2,000 ft (550–610 m) above the ground had been chosen for the (Hiroshima) bomb to achieve maximum blast effects, and to minimize residual radiation on the ground as it was hoped that American troops would soon occupy the city.[36]"

(the note of 7 atomic bombs was a very liberal estimate by Seeman. 3 would have been assembled and ready for delivery befor the invasion, the additional 4 would have been ready by the following spring)