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 General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

General Discussion

stevenleser

(32,886 posts)

15. Eisenhower has IMHO been unfairly discounted as a thinker. He saw it but

Reply to Art_from_Ark (Reply #14)

Thu Aug 6, 2015, 04:09 AM

Aug 2015

Truman did not.

However, just because Eisenhower figured out what was going on behind the scenes in some Japanese government circles doesn't mean for sure we would have been able to get a proposal to them in such a way that would have threaded the needle so to speak.

Even with the use of the atomic bombs there was all kinds of intrigue, coup attempts and assassination attempts before a government/leadership coalition in Japan could be assembled that was strong enough to insist on surrender.

Even had Truman somehow known/figured out was was happening in the Japanese leadership, I rate his chances on being able to effect a peace settlement only at about 55%.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

25 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

It's that time of year again. [View all] uppityperson Aug 2015 OP

If they had told Oppenheimer the truth and let them see it from afar it would have ended as soon . orpupilofnature57 Aug 2015 #1

I thought this was going to be about Colorado peaches... pipoman Aug 2015 #2

I'm pretty convinced that, at the time, they felt both bombs were necessary. Maedhros Aug 2015 #3

General Eisenhower, among others, didn't think the atomic bombings were necessary Art_from_Ark Aug 2015 #14

Eisenhower has IMHO been unfairly discounted as a thinker. He saw it but stevenleser Aug 2015 #15

There is a lot about the Pacific War that most Americans do not know Art_from_Ark Aug 2015 #16

Truman and others obviously thought differently. Maedhros Aug 2015 #24

The story of the final days of the war is very complex Art_from_Ark Aug 2015 #25

I think at the time the first was felt necessary, the second because they wanted to show they could uppityperson Aug 2015 #4

I'm reasonably sure the bombs were necessary Warpy Aug 2015 #5

I reasonably sure that you are dangerously wrong. GeorgeGist Aug 2015 #6

Good. Warpy Aug 2015 #12

Yes, both were necessary according the books I've read Lurks Often Aug 2015 #7

Each was more necessary than the Nanking Massacre Codeine Aug 2015 #8

Don't know. moondust Aug 2015 #9

Innocent women, children, and men should never be a target of war. Deadshot Aug 2015 #10

Plans were for us to drop 3-4 of them per month until surrender. roamer65 Aug 2015 #11

This seems relevant...Gar Alperovitz Cheese Sandwich Aug 2015 #13

They probably saved about a million lives all told Recursion Aug 2015 #17

I'm going to vote "neither" to balance out the poll. redgreenandblue Aug 2015 #18

I'm with you. My thinking has changed over the years from hell no, to maybe Hiroshima after talking uppityperson Aug 2015 #22

I don't comment on these threads usually. joshcryer Aug 2015 #19

So killing people who for the most part didn't participate in atrocities... redgreenandblue Aug 2015 #20

Nope. joshcryer Aug 2015 #21

As bad as the A bombs were sarisataka Aug 2015 #23