Military Buffs I need your help.

[President_Elect_Shang]

First off as to the bombings, I feel that there had to be an alternate way to overcome the Japanese and bring peace, for peat’s-sake it’s an island, blockade it. Not the best idea but you get the point right? As to the comments about revisionist history, I have seen a plethora of alternate ideas and explanations. Many of which appeared well thought out and valid, to me at least.

The big point I see in this thread is that hindsight is not truly 20/20. By this I mean to say that today we can only speculate as to the emotions that played a part in the making of the [two] decisions to drop. It would be nice to have an accurate record since, as we all know this is sometimes the biggest factor in any decision. Cool heads don’t always prevail. To this I can at least concur whole-heartedly.

The other item I would like to touch on is that here in America the Revolutionary War is discussed in some High School classrooms in more depth than WW2 is. Why is that? Are the leaders of this nations school system (yes it is my nation also) afraid to admit that we committed what can be easily argued as one of the most horrid acts of humanity. It is done and in the past. I think it should be taught in every school around the world in the hopes that facing similar circumstances those teens, now turned adults will not make the same mistake. Isn’t that why we teach our children, so that they will be better than us?

[narf poit chez BOOM]

Hat, your saying that the US has the right to act as brutal or more brutal than there opponents and that afterword they'll be better off having been defeated by the US. there might be a few things wrong with this viewpoint.

[AssHat]

My main point is that the decision was made with the proper historical context: Japanese war of aggression against the west, no surrender, no mercy. We responded in kind assuming they would not surrender to McArthur without having devastation wrought upon them. That is what happened.

As for the revenge factor, I just wanted to make it clear the Japanese got what they deserved.

The U.S. was NOT as brutal as the Japanese or the Germans (Nanking, Bataan, Malmedy, Auschwitz and lots more). The rebuilt Japanese and German societies are more wealthy and free than the majority of countries today, and they are two of our staunch allies. So what was wrong with that viewpoint?

[ December 13, 2003, 23:02: Message edited by: AssHat ]

[narf poit chez BOOM]

indeed? including two-month old children?

[AssHat]

Please. That's lame.

At least any two-month old children killed by U.S. action were collateral damage, and not killed at the tip of laughing soldiers' bayonets (Nanking) or cruelly separated from their family and gassed (Auschwitz). From now on you need to provide specifics, not platitudes.

[TerranC]

Originally posted by President Elect Shang:
First off as to the bombings, I feel that there had to be an alternate way to overcome the Japanese and bring peace, for peat’s-sake it’s an island, blockade it.

Japan wasn't limited to the japanese islands back then; Korea was Japanese territory in that era; giving the Japanese a foothold in Asia.

Therefore, A blockade would've only delayed the inevitable.

Edit: And manchuria. Forgot Manchukuo.

[ December 13, 2003, 23:10: Message edited by: TerranC ]

[Gryphin]

AssHat,
Reffering to "Thats Lame".
Everyone one here has their own style. There is no need to denigrade a persons contribution. One could say that my refusal to take a stand is cowardice. It would be a waste of time but they could say it.

[narf poit chez BOOM]

other peoples brutality's do not excuse retalitory brutalities. and more reason is needed out of you than simply dissmissing apposing points.

[AssHat]

Gryphin -

npcB was just yankin' my chain with the baby thing. And it is a lame comeback.

I was not attacking npcB.

Edit: I am not dismissing viewpoints, I am making specific points about why those viewpoints are lacking factual evidence.

[ December 13, 2003, 23:48: Message edited by: AssHat ]

[narf poit chez BOOM]

i wasn't yanking your chain, i was seeking clarification. your statements have sounded incredibly bloodthirsty.