[aclug-L] Re: Richard Reid

[bruce <bbales@xxxxxxx>]

On Sunday 02 February 2003 10:18 pm, you wrote:
>
> While we're thinking of the pain inflicted, what about the
> far more far-reaching consequences of the two nukes we
> dropped?  Or are you saying that American lives are more
> important than Japanese?  If so, I submit that this bigoted
> attitude puts you at odds with a great deal of modern
> thinking.
>
John, while I agree with much of what you have said, the 
thoughts expressed in the paragraph above might be open to 
further argument.  It appeared at the time that the alternative 
was an invasion of the Japanese mainland, which could have 
caused as many Japanese deaths as the bombs did - plus a like 
number of Allied deaths.  Truman agonized over the decision for 
some time before ordering the bomb to be used.

The first bomb certainly got their attention, but didn't stop 
the fighting.  Another was used three days later and that did 
stop the fighting.

One should also be aware of the tenacity (fanaticism?) of the 
Japanese forces.  They were happy to fight to the last man.  
Very few prisoners were taken because they just didn't 
surrender.

The feelings of the American people at the time might be 
considered - we didn't like the "Japs."  They started the war 
with a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor (the day of infamy) 
killing 2,300 americans.  The war had gone on for four years 
and we knew how they treated our prisoners they had captured in 
the Philipeans.  They had invaded China and Korea and were 
barbaric in their treatment of the captured civilians.  They 
were "bad guys."  All of them.

The "--- great deal of modern thinking."  you mentioned might 
be compared to  'Monday morning quarterbacking' or to a lack of 
understanding of the situation that existed 60 years ago.

None of this should be construed to imply that I support 
anything that George W. Shrub is apparently planning for Iraq.
He seems to have picked the plan that would cause _US_ the most 
grief in the long run.
bruce
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