What are the different perspectives on the US decision to drop atomic bomb?

Answer 1

"It was an effective mission". "Cost effective". "Well done, good job". "Right On". Expressions of that nature were prevelant. Very few military leaders or at least those quoted had reservations about the strategic value of this attack, or the potential of a political backlash about atomic intervention and introduction.

Answer 2

Japan was completely destroyed at the time the nuclear attacks in Hiroshima and Nagasaki were done. It doesn't mean that they were defenseless at the time. People in both sides of the war, were tired of the war.

Answer 3

The United States was entirely justified in dropping the atomic bomb to SAVE lives. As had been seen in previous battles, Japanese Propaganda had convinced its citizens that the Americans were barbarous and that it would be better for them to commit suicide than to surrender. If the Americans had invaded, not only was the United States death toll estimated to reach one million, but the number of Japanese soldiers killed in combat and the citizens who committed suicide or were killed by their own soldiers would have far exceeded this. Furthermore, it was estimated that the Japanese were killing thousands of civilians each day across Asia in events like the Rape of Nanking and the Burma Railway, which are collectively nicknamed the Asian Holocaust. The bombs killed about 300,000 people which it tiny compared to the millions that would have been killed by a United States invasion or the failure of the United States to get involved.

AnswerThe above overstates some things, though it certainly hits many of the major points in favor of the bombings. The estimated Allied casualty count (not death toll) for the complete conquest of the Japanese Home Islands was between one half and one million, with roughly one quarter or so of that dead. The estimates for Japanese casualties were ranged from 2 to 5 million, depending on source, with 80-90% of those being deaths, and roughly two-thirds being Japanese civilians. In addition, the daily death toll throughout all Japanese-occupied lands was around 1,000, with most of that coming from POW camps holding Allied soldiers and civilians. Finally, the immediate death toll of the two atomic bombings was 100,000, with another 100-150,000 eventually dying from injuries, burns, and radiation received.

Without seeking to rehash all the arguments pro/con/around the bombings here, please see the Wikipedia link below for a good summary.

Answer 4

Most of the American military, and the general public, were strongly in favor of the use of the atomic bomb in World War II. The enormous casualties that would have resulted from invading Japan would certainly have exceeded anything done by the atomic bombings. A few in the military and out in the general public had strong misgivings, believing that the A-bomb made war even more horrific or perhaps ending the traditional role of the military forever.

Answer 5

President Truman made the decision and no one had to think about it.

Answer 6

After making the atomic bomb, there came a threat about nuclear weapons

Answer 7

The main one was to end the war and to collapse Japan's means to make war ever again.