Pros and cons of using the A-Bomb

I know this is not a new topic in this group. But I'm bringing it up
again beecause . . . well, you'll see:


The usual argument for having used the Bomb is that it saved thousands,
possibly millions, of lives. Without it, goes the argument, it
would have been necessary to invade Japan and millions of soldiers and
civilians would have become casualties.

But did Truman and his advisers really think through the alternative?

Japan at the time was clearly beaten, even if the army didn't know it.
Japanese aircraft and ships were virtually inoperative and would have been
total so within weeks. There was nothing to prevent the US and its
allies sailing round the islands and completely isolating them.

It might have taken some weeks longer, but the inevitable result was that
the Japanese would have had to give up.

It was, of course, cheaper and easier to use the A-Bomb. But did Truman
really think of the consequences? The fact that for the rest of the
century (indeed the rest of eternity) his country would be branded as the
first to use this weapon. Even today, the US is suffering the
consequences of this, because Al Quaeda is using Truman's action to
legitimized its campaign of terror. (Oh sure, they'd find some other
rationalization anyway.)

In his memoirs, Churchill says there was no real thought given to the
alternative of NOT using the bomb. Should there have been?

What's the Monday morning quarterback version?

.

Relevant Pages

  • OT: Elementary, My Dear Ansermetniac!
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  • Re: OT: Elementary, My Dear Ansermetniac!
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  • Re: "I looked at it, and it was a B-29!" ....August 6, 1945
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  • Re: Happy Hiroshima Day
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  • Re: Off Topic: Sixty Years
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