Posted on Aug 7, 2015
Should the United States apologize to Japan for dropping the atomic bomb?
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Yesterday was the 70th anniversary of the United States using the first atomic bomb dropping it on Japan, many news organizations and individuals recognized this historic event. A post by one of my friends caught my eye “…why Japan had apologized for its wartime atrocities repeatedly, but the people of Japan had never received an apology for the dropping of two atomic bombs.” Should the United States apologize for the use of atomic weapons that ultimately ended World War II?
WWII World War Two
Japan
Nuclear
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 131
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This is a really delicate question -- part of me feels like it was justified, but part of me thinks that the atomic bomb is just way too far on the spectrum of EOF.
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PO3 Donald Murphy
You need to study USAAC fire bombing of Japan from March to August 1945. In one night, for the lost of 10 planes, 400000+ Japanese were burned to death. Had Japan not surrendered, there would have been an invasion with one to two months of preliminary bombing. With 100000+ people per night being burned to death, how many Japanese would be left by the time the first invasion soldier hit the beach?
Taking a leaf out of Germany's book, the USAACs goal was to flood Japanese rail and streets with tons of refugees. This also swelled city populations which speeds up the killing as you have people starving to death, dying from lack of medicine, etc. So all things considered, 110000+ dead from the atom bombs was a drop in the bucket.
Taking a leaf out of Germany's book, the USAACs goal was to flood Japanese rail and streets with tons of refugees. This also swelled city populations which speeds up the killing as you have people starving to death, dying from lack of medicine, etc. So all things considered, 110000+ dead from the atom bombs was a drop in the bucket.
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SGT David Ewers There is no reason for us to apologize. Japan started the war. We used the bombs to lessen the casualty count from both countries.
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No. They should, apologize for attacking us. You do, what needs to be done.
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Appeal of President Franklin D. Roosevelt on Aerial Bombardment of Civilian Populations, September 1, 1939
The President of the United States to the Governments of France, Germany, Italy, Poland and His Britannic Majesty, September 1, 1939
The ruthless bombing from the air of civilians in unfortified centers of population during the course of the hostilities which have raged in various quarters of the earth during the past few years, which has resulted in the maiming and in the death of thousands of defenseless men, women, and children, has sickened the hearts of every civilized man and woman, and has profoundly shocked the conscience of humanity.
If resort is had to this form of inhuman barbarism during the period of the tragic conflagration with which the world is now confronted, hundreds of thousands of innocent human beings who have no responsibility for, and who are not even remotely participating in, the hostilities which have now broken out, will lose their lives. I am therefore addressing this urgent appeal to every government which may be engaged in hostilities publicly to affirm its determination that its armed forces shall in no event, and under no circumstances, undertake the bombardment from the air of civilian populations or of unfortified cities, upon the understanding that these same rules of warfare will be scrupulously observed by all of their opponents. I request an immediate reply.
FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT
And with that nice little statement the United States, United Kingdom, Germany and Japan proceeded to quite happily bomb the hell out of civilian populations.
The President of the United States to the Governments of France, Germany, Italy, Poland and His Britannic Majesty, September 1, 1939
The ruthless bombing from the air of civilians in unfortified centers of population during the course of the hostilities which have raged in various quarters of the earth during the past few years, which has resulted in the maiming and in the death of thousands of defenseless men, women, and children, has sickened the hearts of every civilized man and woman, and has profoundly shocked the conscience of humanity.
If resort is had to this form of inhuman barbarism during the period of the tragic conflagration with which the world is now confronted, hundreds of thousands of innocent human beings who have no responsibility for, and who are not even remotely participating in, the hostilities which have now broken out, will lose their lives. I am therefore addressing this urgent appeal to every government which may be engaged in hostilities publicly to affirm its determination that its armed forces shall in no event, and under no circumstances, undertake the bombardment from the air of civilian populations or of unfortified cities, upon the understanding that these same rules of warfare will be scrupulously observed by all of their opponents. I request an immediate reply.
FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT
And with that nice little statement the United States, United Kingdom, Germany and Japan proceeded to quite happily bomb the hell out of civilian populations.
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Should we appologize for dropping atomic bombs on Japan.... My answer would be no. Now, I come from the generation who's parents fought in that war. My father was on Guadalcanal at the age of 17, and my mother lost her first husband on the USS Arizona, so yes, they had serious rage towards Japan, that a surrender did not even come close to soothing.
We have nothing to apologize for. I hate to sound petty, but "They started it!" we just finished it, and we finished it the LEAST BLOODY WAY POSSIBLE" I recommend that you read up on the Bombing raids that took place. At least two of the conventional bombing raids killed more people than the Atomic bombs did... and then of course, there was every indication that, had we done a conventional attack on the mainland, it would have cost so many lives that there would have been little left of either side. They were jumping off cliffs rather than surrender in Okinawa... and even their small children were taught to hold grenades closely and run towards the Americans. When those bombs fell, my father was on a troop ship, heading towards Japan, so no.... I see no point in apologizing for a mess that they themselves created.
We have nothing to apologize for. I hate to sound petty, but "They started it!" we just finished it, and we finished it the LEAST BLOODY WAY POSSIBLE" I recommend that you read up on the Bombing raids that took place. At least two of the conventional bombing raids killed more people than the Atomic bombs did... and then of course, there was every indication that, had we done a conventional attack on the mainland, it would have cost so many lives that there would have been little left of either side. They were jumping off cliffs rather than surrender in Okinawa... and even their small children were taught to hold grenades closely and run towards the Americans. When those bombs fell, my father was on a troop ship, heading towards Japan, so no.... I see no point in apologizing for a mess that they themselves created.
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SGT David Ewers
Same thing I think, I know it sounds petty but it's the truth. I don't believe that we should apologize for anything. I think they underestimated the United States and got what they deserved.
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We should apologize to the victims of Japanese atrocities for not finishing the job by bombing Japan back to the stone age and for not executing Hirohito and a bunch of other scumbag war criminals.
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Maybe for the 2nd one. Three days later didn't give diplomacy a chance to work.
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PO3 Donald Murphy
The Japanese - being an island nation - were "finished in November 1944 when their navy ceased to exist. Also remember that we were reading their codes. Every conversation they were having, we were reading. Additionally, the Japanese were further ahead in nuclear studies than the Germans. In fact, the Japanese were closer than we give them credit for. So there was no need for fact-finding. The Japanese General tasked with reporting to Hirohito came back and said "it was an atomic device. We know this as we are working on one ourselves." So there was no need to scratch heads and wonder what happened.
And then, if you really wanted to adopt a righteous attitude, you could follow the historical record which is that the Japanese had a horrible record of going back on their word (making Manilla an open city, etc). So for the Allies to treat any Japanese peace feelers with a "we'll believe it when we see it" attitude is perfectly acceptable.
And then, if you really wanted to adopt a righteous attitude, you could follow the historical record which is that the Japanese had a horrible record of going back on their word (making Manilla an open city, etc). So for the Allies to treat any Japanese peace feelers with a "we'll believe it when we see it" attitude is perfectly acceptable.
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