CBS News reports that while use of the atomic bomb was condoned by almost 60% (vs 35% disapprove) as little as 21 years ago, this has shifted with generational and demographic changes. As of 2016:
“Forty-three percent of
Americans say they approve of the use of the atomic bomb on Japanese cities in
1945, while 44 percent disapprove.” **
 |
| Fire swept through the city |
The sheer destruction of the two cities and loss of life, mostly civilians, are the primary facts cited by those who disagree, some vehemently, against the decision. Over ninety percent of Hiroshima's buildings were wiped out, partially because of the mainly wooden construction and follow-on fires. Almost 70,000 people lost their lives right away with an estimated 60-70,000 more injured with many/most succumbing to the effects of radiation over the course of the next year. Nagasaki faired marginally better as the bomb was dropped 3 km from the targeted area in a valley, but still some 40-80,000 people lost their lives or were gravely injured. *** & ++ & ^^
 |
| Japanese Policemen identifying victims of Operation Meetinghouse |
Opponents to the weapon's use at Hiroshima state outright, or at least imply, that this destruction was the worst American or Allied event to occur not just in WWII, but in the 70 years since. They point out that there were acceptable alternatives that could have been worked out over time instead, and that peace entreaties were already underway. The latter is true; initial feelers had been sent by the Japanese to the Soviets essentially looking to secure a peace in which Japan would pull back from the territories that it had occupied with essentially no other repercussions.
 |
| Over 90% of the city center was destroyed |
Here are some counterpoints:
First, the bombing of Hiroshima was NOT the most destructive event America was responsible for in WWII (or since); nor was it even the worst thing we did to Japan in the course of the war.
As appalled as someone might be by the devastation wrought by use of atomic weapons, consider what you've seen so far in this post. Apart from the initial picture of the mushroom cloud at the top, the next three photos are the aftermath of conventional warfare events, i.e. nothing to do with atomic bombs. They are, instead:
- Tokyo after Operation Meetinghouse firebombing over 9-10 March 1945
- Burned bodies from same
- Dresden, Germany after Operation Thunderclap where initially it was thought that over 500,000 people had been killed, such was the level of destruction
The focus on nuclear bombs, and the power to sway opinion through news coverage, photos and videos can serve an agenda. It may be a good one, such as convincing nations that nuclear weapons should never be used again, or something less noble like continually trying to lay guilt on the United States for difficult but correct decisions made in the course of a just war.
2016 Americans are pretty far removed from the realities of World War II
Only 6% of WWII veterans are estimated to be alive today, and given that they are in their late 80's and 90's, they are likely not the ones being asked in these opinion polls. +++ How many Americans can even identify when WWII took place, who our enemies were, or how many lost their lives to give context to any opinions they hold on the subject of the use of atomic weapons? A Gallup poll in 2004 found that less than half of 18-29 year-olds could identify Germany as the enemy we were fighting in the D-Day Invasion. Those people would be as old as 41 today and it is likely the follow-on group is even less aware. ^^^
And we're asking the average American in a poll whether they think it was right that America used the first nuclear bomb? On what basis are they making this "informed" decision?
Japan's "victim of the war" view and inability to truly accept accountability even to this day undermines much of its argument that the bombing was unwarranted
With the exception of some awkward admissions, politically, Japan has refused to admit it did anything wrong during the Second World War or in its ruthless colonialism. ++ Meanwhile, in the decade when the atomic bomb decision was made, Japan carried out such highlights as the:
- Rape of Nanking (see below)
- Bombing of Pearl Harbor against a United States that was at peace
- Bataan Death March of American and other Allied soldiers in the Phillippines
- Torture and indiscriminate killing of prisoners (and civilians) across conquered territories
- Sexual slavery of the "Comfort Women" all over Asia
When deciding, President Truman only had the evidence on hand
It's full scale war, against one of two enemies bent on taking over the world, and they're not very nice people at that. They must be defeated, completely, to take away their ability to wage war in the future, and to provide a deterrent against future aggression by other nations. Having just gone through the "war to end all wars" barely two decades earlier, it was incumbent upon the Allies to hold the German and Japanese leaders accountable for their crimes, brutality and atrocities. A negotiated peace would not achieve the above goals, leaving the cancer to grow anew.
As to the weapons of war: You've been seeking to advance technology faster than your foes for the last four to five years, because every advance saves Allied lives and shortens the war. You just came up with a game changer while the following events have recently taken place:
- Battle of Gaudalcanal - 6 long months to take over islands in that region costing 7100 American lives with a larger number injured; 31,000 Japanese killed
- Okinawa - two months of savage fighting for this one island resulting in 50,000 Allied and 100,000 Japanese casualties (killed and wounded)
- Iwo Jima - 26,000 American Marines, one third of ALL Marine casualties in WWII; 22,000 Japanese
- Kamizkaze warfare introduced - the modern forerunner of the suicide bomber
- Stalin's mid-1945 intention to engage Japan in war and seize ground, after having taken over much of Eastern Europe in Germany's defeat
Knowing how the battles have gone on far off islands, due deliberation must be given to the costs to defeat Japan in its homeland, and other means of doing so.
Lastly, a few final considerations
 |
| American soldiers watching a nuclear bomb explosion |
The
U.S. did not really know the true effects of the atomic bomb, as can be
seen in the films of our soldiers being exposed to nuclear explosions.
Guidance issued at the time of the planned invasion included the
caution that soldiers should not enter an area hit by a bomb for "at
least 48 hours." ****
The invasion plan for mainland Japan, Operation Downfall, had projected casualties that ran the gamut from 30,000 U.S. troops in the first 30 days (it would likely take much, much longer), to ultimate American losses of 500,000 to one million while Japan lost as many as five million.
Due to terrain characteristics and intelligence, military planners in Japan had accurately predicted the two landing areas for invasion and prepared an all-out defense. One major assumption, that could drive Allied losses into the millions was, "That operations in this area will be opposed not only by the
available organized military forces of the Empire, but also by a
fanatically hostile population." ****
10,000 aircraft were dedicated to Japan's kamikaze defense with plans to sink 400 ships (for comparison, we currently have 430 ships TOTAL in the
U.S. Navy) ++++
There was no reason to doubt Japan's resolve to continue fighting, particularly when it came to the homeland.
Knowing these facts in the sixth year of a world war, with responsibility to the nation for all American troops resting on your shoulders as Commander-in-Chief, what would you do?
A summary of Japan's political process after the nuclear explosions at Hiroshima and Nagasaki (italics mine):
"No Surrender
Japan had received what would
seem to have been overwhelming shocks. Yet, after two atomic bombings and the
Soviet invasion, the Japanese government still refused to surrender.
The Potsdam Proclamation had
called for 'Japan to decide whether she will continue to be controlled by
those self-willed militaristic advisers.' On the
13th, the Supreme Council For the Direction of the War (known as the 'Big
6') met to address the Potsdam Proclamation's call for surrender.... The meeting adjourned in a deadlock, with no decision to
surrender.
Later that day the Japanese
Cabinet met. It was only this body - not the Big 6, not even the Emperor - that
could rule as to whether Japan would surrender. And a unanimous decision was
required. But again War Minister Anami led the
opponents of surrender, resulting in a vote of 12 in favor of surrender, 3
against, and 1 undecided. Having failed to reach a decision to surrender, the
Cabinet adjourned." ^^^^
It wasn't until the Japanese Emperor, who was considered an actual deity, took the unusual step of weighing in on the decision-making process that a unanimous vote for peace could be reached.
...
 | |
| First fusion or thermonuclear test by U.S. yielding 10-12 Megatons (800x more powerful than Hiroshima bomb), November 1952; Korean War 1950-53; USSR first A-bomb explosion - 1949 |
Only one atomic bomb test had taken place 21 days before its use in Hiroshima. No one had ever deployed one in war, and therefore no one truly knew its awful capability for destruction and death. Had the world not witnessed its use at Hiroshima and Nagasaki to end the war, I have little doubt that nuclear bombs would have been deployed in the next conflict to arise, most likely Korea, with far more devastating results due to yield increases and possible/probable escalation.
---------------------------
“The International Military
Tribunal for the Far East in Tokyo estimated in 1948 that over 200,000 Chinese were
killed in the incident. Whereas in 1947
the Nanjing War Crimes Tribunal estimated that the number was more than
300,000.”
A quick story and summary to relate the events of that period:
A killing “contest” was covered in an Osaka newspaper. Two officers competed to see who could be the
first to kill 100 people with swords.
Since there was a virtual tie, this went on to a second round for a goal
of 150 killed.
Tens of thousands of Chinese
soldiers who had surrendered were massacred in the aftermath of the battle. Over a period of days roughly 1000 women and
children were raped per day, frequently being mutilated and/or killed right
after. Pregnant women were raped and
then their fetuses bayonetted. Children
of all ages were killed or wounded and left to die in “sporting” and profane
manners.
