Was the decision to drop atomic bombs on Japan justifiable?
Let’s distinguish between three concepts: (1) was it justifiable (ie: can we make plausible arguments why it was appropriate? (2) was it the correct decision (which is completely separate from “can we justify it?”)? and (3) was it a moral decision? 1. Of course it’s justifiable. Only a position you can’t make semi-plausible arguments for is unjustifiable. Japan had tried very hard at Iwo Jima and Okinawa (both Japanese soil) to send the message that they would fight to the last man and that invading Japan would be too bloody for America. Okinawa is where kamikazes were seen in large numbers. America’s leaders (military and civilians) were convinced that invading Japan would be a blood bath. The atom bombs, even if you feel they were wrong, were easily justified. 2. Was it the right decision? Yes, it was. –the person who argued that the Japanese were reeling from the efforts of the Soviets needs a history lesson. We dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima on August 6th. The Soviets
