Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Some facts on dropping the two bombs [View all]nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)64. They had that debate, even before hiroshima
it's easy for us to say that, but the problem they had is that once Nagasaki was done. let's assume for a second Japan did not surrender... and they needed a third... they had no material left, and would have taken about six months to get another device in the pipeline.
That is why they decided against it, even before Hiroshima. We can judge them, but it is one of those rare events in history that most historians agree, there were no good choices before them.
Why the context matters, a lot.
Edit history
Please sign in to view edit histories.
Recommendations
0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):
82 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
RecommendedHighlight replies with 5 or more recommendations
It was the first time in history the vast majority of Japanese people had ever heard his voice.
AtheistCrusader
Aug 2013
#32
The people of Hiroshima were busy ripping down their own homes, digging bunkers
AtheistCrusader
Aug 2013
#48
I'd sign the Szilárd petition then nail it to the totem pole you squat on everyday here.
miyazaki
Aug 2013
#41
Nadine, they were negotiating peace with us before we dropped the bomb on them.
Th1onein
Aug 2013
#60
Incidentally, we risked lives and the success of the mission to warn civilians out of the cities.
AtheistCrusader
Aug 2013
#54
If the US hadn't used them first, somebody would have wanted to use them later.
reformist2
Aug 2013
#55
#4: an airburst at 10,000 ft is pretty much the opposite of "targeting". n/t
DisgustipatedinCA
Aug 2013
#70
You're right about the altitude, but from 1950 or from 10,000, precision is not the main benefit
DisgustipatedinCA
Aug 2013
#75
THE DECISION TO USE THE ATOMIC BOMB - For those looking for more than the status quo opinion
usGovOwesUs3Trillion
Aug 2013
#73