| Do you believe that any country with access to atomic bombs would actually use it knowing what the results would be? |
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Asked 3 years ago
by Jackofdiamonds  United States |
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About
Retired
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9 Points
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I'm wondering how people in the US can vote "No"?
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[4 points] 3 years ago by deleted user ReplyI knew it. And it doesn't bother me in the least.
We were also the first to have it. Very few people in the world really understood what would happen if one were used. And if we hadn't - someone else would have.
I'm not saying it wasn't horrid - the actual damage was horrific. I'm NOT saying if I were in the same place, same time making the same decision, I would have chosen differently. I AM saying that IF we could have brought all those scientists, politicians, military advisers and citizens who would have been affected by the bomb forward in time and SHOWN them what would happen - they MIGHT have come to a different conclusion. The scientists might have stopped development. The Japanese might have gone ahead and surrendered unconditionally.
But it sure doesn't take much courage to stand in place, 63 years later and point fingers using 20/20 hindsight, does it? All that takes is a nasty disposition and a desire to rationalize your disdain.
Most historians agree that (despite the "official" story of saving millions of American lives) the Japanese were on the verge of unconditional surrender anyway, and that the dropping of the bombs was more to impress Russia than to end the war. Add to that the fact that they were dropped on civilian targets and not military ones, and it's not a pretty picture.
I understand what you say, but I hesitate to accept it as complete fact. 63 years later, it's too easy to say what was common knowledge and what was not. Too much has been colored by time, second guessing and hindsight. We'll never know. All we can do is acknowledge, never forget and go on with the conviction that it should never happen again.
Hindsight not necessary. The 1946 United States Strategic Bombing Survey concluded that it had been unnecessary to the winning of the war. After interviewing hundreds of Japanese civilian and military leaders after Japan surrendered, it reported:
"Based on a detailed investigation of all the facts, and supported by the testimony of the surviving Japanese leaders involved, it is the Survey's opinion that certainly prior to 31 December 1945, and in all probability prior to 1 November 1945, Japan would have surrendered even if the atomic bombs had not been dropped, even if Russia had not entered the war, and even if no invasion had been planned or contemplated."
But again - all those dates and all those predictions were AFTER the bombs were dropped. I'm not saying the conclusions are wrong - but again they are POST bombing so they are colored with POST bombing facts. So the 'known' truth on the day the first bomb was dropped is forever tainted. We cannot ACCURATELY judge the situation using hindsight. It's not fair. We can only take the hindsight knowledge and go forward with it.
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[0 points] 3 years ago by deleted user ReplyOkay... fine. How about before the fact? How about Dwight D. Eisenhower? Do you want to call him a pussy, too? In speaking of his meeting with Secretary of War Stimson, BEFORE the bombs were dropped, he said, "During his recitation of the relevant facts, I had been conscious of a feeling of depression and so I voiced to him my grave misgivings, first on the basis of my belief that Japan was already defeated and that dropping the bomb was completely unnecessary, and secondly because I thought that our country should avoid shocking world opinion by the use of a weapon whose employment was, I thought, no longer mandatory as a measure to save American lives. It was my belief that Japan was, at that very moment, seeking some way to surrender with a minimum loss of 'face'. The Secretary was deeply perturbed by my attitude..."
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[-1 points] 3 years ago by deleted user ReplySince you acknowledge we have the benefit of 20/20 hindsight you admit we are right. So being right makes us wussies?
I have lots more quotes from generals who said it was wrong BEFORE the fact... but you apparently have little respect for the military... so.
Oh, and I find it very humorous that YOU are knocking Eisenhower for failing to support the civil right movement. ;o)
Everyone in the US can vote no, because the premise of the question is "knowing" what the results would be. We didn't "know" what the results would be until after one was dropped.
If the question said a single person or a group, I would have said yes. I do not believe an entire government would use an atomic bomb in today's world. Many nations have atomic weapons; there could easily be retaliation.
I am in total agreement with you !
Lessee--we did. Nagasaki.
And Hiroshima.
It could be argued that we didn't know what would happen until after Hiroshima. I know, they did Nagasaki to see if a different type of bomb would also work, but the results, if it did work, could have been extrapolated from Hiroshima.
Excellent point.
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[0 points] 3 years ago by deleted user ReplyMy bet would be the only country that would ever use nuclear weapons is the US.
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[-3 points] 3 years ago by deleted user ReplyWow, nice to know you trust North Korea and Pakistan so much.
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[1 point] 3 years ago by deleted user ReplyIf the US had not used the A bomb in WW11 that stupid war would probably still be going on.
60 million people died in WW11 - that mathematically is around
28 THOUSAND deaths PER day! Thanks mostly to NAZI's....
sorry if anyone is GERMAN - but the truth hurts... and 10% of those deaths were mostly Jewish people in Hitlers camps! and Japan - well now we're supposed to be correct here....but...they were chosen as a target because they would NEVER have surrender till all the boys + men were dead.Let's not fail to remember that they were NOT at war when they INVADED Pearl Harbour....and then - let's recall the death march - It was so necessary but sadly all the old boys are gone now and only a few smart people go and read why and how the War was waged. Today - people actually believe that ALL muslims are peaceful. - so there'll be another war I'm sure.
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[0 points] 3 years ago by deleted user Reply"If the US had not used the A bomb in WW11 that stupid war would probably still be going on"
Haha oh wow, what a ridiculous claim, and yeah, Hitler killed civilians therefor = nuking japanese civilians must be legit! ..or maybe that just make the americans as bad as Hitler...?
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[-2 points] 3 years ago by deleted user ReplyPeople who would behead their enemies would also drop nuclear bombs on them. Is there any grosser way to murder somebody than beheading them?
Well, maybe dropping a nuclear bomb on them and missing by 10 miles could get pretty gross, huh? o.O
You aint seen gross until you see what mutations that can come after the radiation <.<
The waste does the same thing once it leaks into the water tables. But they hide THOSE photos.
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[1 point] 3 years ago by deleted user Reply