Senate Majority Leader: I wish the segregationist had won!

[Sava]

While I agree with you whole-heartedly on the targeting of civilians, David... the dropping of the A-bombs on the targets chosen was the right decision. While the civilian casualties were high, the bombs had to be dropped in areas where their effects would have been significant to cause Japan to surrender. A ground invasion would have caused far more civilian casualties than the A-bombs.

[Boris Godunov]

A ground invasion wasn't necessary, though, so that's a moot point.

[Sava]

What else besides dropping the bombs, would have gotten Japan to surrender? Perhaps a lengthy embargo and trade sanctions, but as shown with Iraq, many more people would have died of starvation. In fact, about 5 times as many people have died in Iraq due to the sanctions than those killed in the atom bomb attacks.

[David Floyd]

A ground invasion would have caused far more civilian casualties than the A-bombs.

So, obviously, we shouldn't have invaded either.

[Joseph]

Originally posted by Boris Godunov
A ground invasion wasn't necessary, though, so that's a moot point.

How do you know? Some stupid Prof tell you so?

[David Floyd]

That argument can easily go either way, but historical record shows that the Japanese put out peace feelers as early as 1944. Unconditional surrender, though, was always a major sticking point, and that was wrong on our point.

[Joseph]

Originally posted by David Floyd


So, obviously, we shouldn't have invaded either.

Why? So the Japanese could rebuild and then we would have to do it again?
I was in Japan in 1963 and 1964 and had a chance to talk to a Gentleman who was a Commander in the Japanese Navy during the war. I asked him if they would have surrender and he said NO. Only when the Emperor spoke up did they the Military stop the fighting.
My brother who was in the Army in the Philippine said his squad had to kill a lot of Japanese solder who would not surrender. Several member of his squad were killed by Japanese after the war was over.
I wonder about some of you kids and your knowledge of WWII.

[Boris Godunov]

Originally posted by Joseph
How do you know? Some stupid Prof tell you so?

No, some stupid US Military report, among other military experts:

"Certainly prior to 31 December 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." (US Strategic Bombing Survey, 1946.)

"The use of this barbarous weapon at Hiroshima ... was of no material assistance in our war against Japan. The Japanese were already defeated and ready to surrender because of the effective sea blockade and the successful bombing with conventional weapons... In being the first to use it [the atomic bomb], we had adopted an ethical standard common to the barbarians of the Dark Ages." (Admiral William D. Leahy, Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and President Truman's Chief of Staff)

"Japan was at that very moment seeking some way to surrender with a minimum loss of 'face'... It wasn't necessary to hit them with that awful thing." (General Eisenhower).

Now who told you the bombs were necessary to end the war? Some stupid American politician?

[Boris Godunov]

Originally posted by Joseph
Why? So the Japanese could rebuild and then we would have to do it again?

Rebuild with what? They were blockaded.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Oh please, DD... stop being a Lott apologist... its obvious that he's a racist. His past and present statements and actions support that assertion.

Stop being a Byrd apologist... its obvious that he's a rascist. His past and present statements and actions support that assertion.

[Boris Godunov]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui

Oh please, DD... stop being a Lott apologist... its obvious that he's a racist. His past and present statements and actions support that assertion.

Stop being a Byrd apologist... its obvious that he's a rascist. His past and present statements and actions support that assertion.

Past, yes. Present? Like what? And don't bring up the Fox news broadcast...that was pure senility.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Bull****. He meant to say '******' and he did. And that's not the only time he's used that word.

[Sava]

Statements in 1980, the whole fraternity thing (Time Magazine story)...

Unfortunately, Mr. Lott has been a good politician and not made his true motives clear. I've just looked at his past and his stance on a variety of issues, and this is my conclusion. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see that him, Thurmond, and others are closet racists.

Imran: Who the F is Byrd? I haven't said one thing about this guy...

[Joseph]

I was in Japan in 1963 and 1964 and had a chance to talk to a Gentleman who was a Commander in the Japanese Navy during the war. I asked him if they would have surrender and he said NO. Only when the Emperor spoke up did they the Military stop the fighting.
My brother who was in the Army in the Philippine said his squad had to kill a lot of Japanese solder who would not surrender. Several member of his squad were killed by Japanese after the war was over.
I wonder about some of you kids and your knowledge of WWII.

[Sava]

Boris: I not privy to the amount of intelligence available to Truman when he made that decision... maybe he didn't have all the facts either. My opinions on this matter are based upon what I've learned about the whole mess in high school and college (plus many hours of the history channel, don't worry I don't put much stock into that ). It seems that you are more informed than me on this issue. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt to some degree because it's possible you are smarter than me (don't worry, I'm not trying to sleep with you ).