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Maedhros

(10,007 posts)

24. Truman and others obviously thought differently.

Reply to Art_from_Ark (Reply #14)

Thu Aug 6, 2015, 02:57 PM

Aug 2015

It's been suggested that the real reason for dropping the bombs was to deter Stalin and prevent the hot war with the Soviet Union that folks like Patton were endorsing.

Most people point to the "inevitable" invasion of the Japanese mainland, and the associated horrendous casualties, as the reason for the bombing. My belief is that a blockade of Japan would have accomplished what was needed - their navy was a shell of its former self in 1945.

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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