Should the United States apologize to Japan for dropping the atomic bomb?

There are a great number of regrettable things, but unless it can be shown that we dropped those bombs knowing full well that there were better options, we owe nobody anything. If we apologize to anyone, it should be for Dresden, not Hiroshima.

No, We need to understand "War is Hell". Don't tread on me! If you choose to attack us game on and or over.

NO! We actually did them a favor as well as ourselves. Not a popular option but the Japanese were prepared to fight to the death any invasion of their homeland which would have resulted in many more deaths on both sides. The bomb was a horrible choice but most experts agree and so does my grandfather that it was necessary to end the war. I might add that Japan has not apologized for their surprise attack on Pearl Harbor either and they had the opportunity when they visited the Arizona Memorial in Hawaii.!

Next month, Obama will travel to Japan for a summit of the Group of Seven industrialized democracies. While there, he may pay a visit to Hiroshima, the site of the world’s first atomic bombing. “No sitting U.S. president has ever visited Hiroshima, out of concern that such a trip might be interpreted as an apology,” reports the Washington Post.
This has never stopped Mr. Obama before. But consider this... has Japan ever formally apologized for the unannounced attack on Pearl Harbor, or have they ever formally apologized to the women who they made sex slaves or for the treatment that was given to the POW's in their captivity... The Bataan Death March, the "rape of Nanking" and the list goes on. They started it in a most provocative manner... we ended it with a weapon of war that ultimately saved a million GI's lives as well as countless civilians on both sides. Should WE apologize, perhaps for not getting the job done sooner so fewer Marines and Soldiers had to die on all of those Pacific Islands. Japan has reconciled themselves to how the war ended and so should we. History cannot be changed and we should not be apologizing for preserving the life of our citizens at the cost of a dastardly enemy's people. The US President needs to keep his "BIG BOY" pants on -- No visit to Hiroshima.

No apologies needed. It was the decision of the time based on the information and situation of the time. The United States was running a financial deficit that equal its GNP in 1945. Though we had many military successes in the Pacific, many economist were not sure if our nation could take such excessive government spending without economic collapse which could lead to losing. The atom bomb seemed to be the quick alternative to a land invasion and little was known about the effects of radiation fall out. That said, there is no reason to gloat about dropping the bomb either.

As a nation, we must wear the scar of being he first an only nation to make to take this act. It is nothing to hang our head high or in shame over. Yes, I looked at schools books with pictures rarely seen by Americans, when I was stationed in Japan, and it brought tears to my eyes. I love the Japanese people as much as Americans, especially being married to one and the father of two (dual) of its citizens. We must remember the past and move forward in our partnership with Japan. If we ever must use nuclear weapon on another people again, I pray to God, that we who serve, give our Commander in Chief the best information possible.

The Japanese should be thanking us for not invading their country which would have caused many more casualties.

Not only no, but hell, no! After we brought the Japs to their knees, we helped them to rebuild into a nation far stronger & smarter than they were before. After their totalitarian regime was defeated, WE, THE USA, made them better than they were. That is apology enough.

I grrew up in a tough lower class neighborhood and being short and slender, was picked on regularly and because of my religious parents avoided confrontation. One day after a round of schoolyard humiliation, I grabbed the biggest kid in the group, tripped him so that he fell and sat on him pummeling him till he cried and begged me to stop. a teacher pulled me off of him. Moral is this: I didn't ask for what I got but he did. I was never bothered the rest of the time I was in school. I didn't apologize to the kid and he never apologized to me. I don't see the necessity of apologizing to Japan or Germany for anything that they provoked.....

No, Japan was never going to surrender particularly in their land; which we were about to invade. As awful as it was it had to be done IOT to stop the Japanese effort. Hey, it took 2 bombs to have them surrender!

To all future generations who may yet contemplate Japan’s atomic destruction as unnecessary, cruel, and unjust I say let them come to Pearl Harbor as I had done to stand quietly some morning at the USS Arizona Memorial, respectfully bow their heads and simply listen to the wind.