The following may sound cynical, but as it comes from a mostly America-critic European (me
) rest assured it's no right-wing parole, but simply a assertion of possible facts.
I think that the main reason to drop the bomb was to "show off", and I also think that
1.) It worked
2.) It was justified if not even necessary
Let me explain:
By dropping the A-bomb the US achieved several things
1.) They took the place as the world's first and foremost superpower, thus suppressing a possible upcoming conflict with the USSR by intimidation. This worked both ways and quickly turned into the Cold War. now a lot of bad things have been said about this time, but just try to imagine how a "Heated" war between comunist and wester countries (without A-bombs in that case) would/could have looked.
2.) An uncomparable destructive power ended WWII, making this war even more abhorrent than WWI and keeping most of the involved countries from entering a major conflict ever again.
3.) Public respect/fear of major war increased dramatically and has not decreased since.
Now I admit that this may not have been intended, and I would not support any nuclear strike now nor would I have back then.
Whatever the gain, I consider human life (regardless of numbers) to be a too high price for ANY of it. But I can see the political agenda behind it, I do get its point and I am quite content with the global political outcome.
To sum up:
IMHO
The US had no ethical right to drop the bomb (nobody has the right to take thouands of lifes).
The US had good reason to drop the bomb.
Hiroshima and Nagasaki were a political and strategical success.
Hiroshima and Nagasaki were the greatest human tragedy of the 20th century.
[ 02-10-2004, 05:34 PM: Message edited by: Faceman ]