The nuclear bombing anniversary is very very close to my birthday...so naturally every birthday (being a history buff) that is what goes through my head all day.

As horrible as those 2 bombings were, the fire bombings were even more vicious. If you want to read a very enlightening book about the horrible acts (like the nukes and fire bombing) read "Flyboys" by James Bradley....No it has nothing to do with the movie 'Flyboys'. The central theme of the book focuses on 8 or 9 USN and USMC aviators shot down over Chichi Jima during the Iwo campaign. BE WARNED: the book will disturb you but it is eye opening and very well written/researched. I highly suggest not reading it before bed or while eating. My dad and I made those mistakes!

Webb wrote on Aug 8^th, 2012 at 10:42pm:


Not a viable option. The Russian were about to come from west, and they had the... habit, shall we say, of remaining where they arrived as conquering forces.

It would have become a complete, TOTAL mess. Especially for the Japanese people.


Webb wrote on Aug 8^th, 2012 at 10:42pm:


There was an attempt at a coup made by the military, which failed, to keep the emperor from declaring the surrender, this I know, but it happened AFTER Nagasaki.

The war in Japan was completely in the hand of the military, with no political control possible... even since the 20ies I believe Japan went on a extended and extreme militarization of the nation (even worse than Italy AND Germany put together)... and history teaches that when you put A NATION completely in the hands of the military, THAT'LL BE THE TIME they'll begin to take the steps to make a COMPLETE HASH of it. In fact, the Japanese military were CONVINCED to fight a war to complete destruction and the death of the last man, woman and child.

Even more than the Germans, this was insanity in its purest form.


Webb wrote on Aug 8^th, 2012 at 10:42pm:


This doesn't make you particular honor. Even if you (they) were forced into it. Even if it was the lesser evil, since the Japanese military were reasoning with they OTHER heads. ALL considered, you should remember that those "suckers", as you call them, did not discriminate between those who deserved to be vaporized and those who didn't.

After Nagasaki already half a million of innocent civilians dead as a end result, and some of them dieing in such a horrible way that I would only wish to some politicians I know (and the firebombing of Tokyo only a month before had already taken ALMOST AS MUCH victims). Being cheerful about readiness of making the tally much higher is NO talk to make among polite company.