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Thomas Bitterman-<br>
It is entirely possible that the atomic bombs were not the cause
of Japanese surrender. Some Japanese principals have denied that
the bombs were a major factor, citing instead the Russian
invasion. In any case, invasion wasn't the only other option - a
blockade along with continued bombing was also an option, and
would have almost certainly succeeded (albeit more slowly).<br>
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As in North Korea? Do you really think we could have pulled off such
a blockade during the Cold War with China and the Soviet Union right
off of Japan's coast? I think the idea that the bombing wasn't THE
factor in the surrender is extremely wishful thinking. There was
likely a Japanese ministers or two who thought privately that
surrender would be a good idea. But the military and emperor called
the shots. If the Japanese didn't surrender after the loss of
Okinawa, it is improbable that they would have capitulated to the
loss of some small islands (which the Soviets didn't take until
after Hiroshima). And anyway, they didn't surrender after the loss
of those islands. They surrendered after Nagasaki.<br>
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<blockquote cite="mid:SNT123-W49896C0F60C847C0CFEAFDCFF60@phx.gbl"
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<pre wrap="">James Wynn: Allow me to take the Devil's side for a bit. The Imperial Japanese
culture in the early 1940s glorified nihilistic fanaticism. Long after
it was clear that they would not win the war, the Emperor and the J
government had decided that if they were beaten there should be a
genocide of the Japanese people.
</pre>
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<pre wrap="">
Lee-
I certainly allow it, if I am permitted to take Angel's advocate role for a minute.
It is a simplistic, cruel view of life to say that if an enemy Emperor orders the genocide of
his people that we ought to be the perpetrators of it. Somehow that is the right thing to do?
</pre>
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"War <i></i>is the remedy that our enemies have chosen, and I say
let us give them all they want."<br>
~ William T. Sherman<br>
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Lee-
If I were transported back in time and installed as US president I would order something along
the lines of a N. Korea strategy. Containment. One cannot in good conscience commit a crime
against humanity, kill hundreds of thousands of innocent people (including American POWs) in the
"hopes" (and it was simply hope at the time) that it might avert a worse killing.
</pre>
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I appreciate that sentiment. However, knowing how containment has
worked for North Koreans and Iraqis, I am unconvinced that would
have been the humane choice. Compare Japan to North Korea. Compare
SOUTH Korea to North Korea. <br>
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<pre wrap="">Lee-
We'll never know. But as a 21st century resident I know could never nuke any nation.
(meaning I couldn't be elected president now either, esp. if I spoke that publicly</pre>
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Actually, if you had been President in 1945 and sent 10s of 1000s of
young men to die to liberate remote Pacific Islands and then said
"We'll just spend the next 40 years watching Japan's borders." You
probably would have been impeached. If you had chosen to invade
Japan rather than end the war quickly with a couple bombs, you
certainly would have been impeached. We elect presidents to make
unpleasant choices: Take it in the face or fight back. If Americans
had wanted half-measures, they'd have run the country from Congress.<br>
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