Posted on 08/05/2007 7:44:36 AM PDT by enraged
How far back do you want to go?
Tell that to Nancy Lugosi, Ted kennedy, Harry Reid, Barbara Boxer, Henry Waxman, Lynn Woolsey, Ellen Tauscher, Charles Rangel, John Murtha and all the other doofuses impermeable to the lessons of history. That a little nothing entity, wet behind the ears and fresh from "journalism" school succumbs to the same ignorance is no great surprise.
Those who cannot remember the past are doomed to repeat it...
Just saying.
Begin with your first reason for blaming it on the United States and come forward to Pearl Harbor.
Of course we all do. The "new" Asian co-prosperity sphere; and the only military entity which could thwart the intended Japanese military expansion and the capture of the Asian mineral and agricultural wealth.
Yeesh, didn’t this “journalist” ever hear of Iwo Jima? The Japs weren’t going to tolerate an invasion of their homeland. Period. Look what lengths they went through just to defend a crappy rock.
Going back a tad bit more ... Japan as an active Allied in WWI got what in return?
Or, when did Japan's get access to northern China?
In August 1945, General Yamashita, cut off from reinforcement and resupply for 9 months, still had significant numbers of Allied troops tied up actively combating him in the Philippines. The determined Japanese defense of both Iwo Jima and the Philippines demonstrated that the Japanese had adapted their defensive tactics to Allied offensive tactics and could organize the defense to inflict significant casualties even when their efforts must ultimately end in defeat.
Here are links to two articles that give good detail to the situation being faced by both sides and the casualty issue:
OLYMPIC VS KETSU-GO : http://www.ibiblio.org/pha/war.term/olympic.html
(Operation DOWNFALL (the invasion of Japan) was divided into two phases: Operation OLYMPIC, the invasion in late 1945 of Kyushu,the southernmost of the four main islands making up mainland Japan and Operation CORONET, the invasion of the Kanto Plain outside Tokyo in the spring of 1946. Of the two, only planning for OLYMPIC was essentially complete when the war ended in August 1945. Completion of CORONET planning depended, in part, on the results of the earlier operation and lessons learned about Japanese defensive tactics. In the description of OLYMPIC, note that atomic bombs were to be made available for use by commanders at the operational level. KETSU-GO was the name of the Japanese plan for the defense of the mainland.)
CASUALTY PROJECTIONS FOR THE U.S. INVASIONS OF JAPAN, 1945-1946: PLANNING AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS:
http://home.kc.rr.com/casualties/
As for the peace/surrender negotiations, the Japanese were going to drag those out as long as possible to exact what concessions they could while continuing to furiously built up their defenses. Without the atomic bomb to knock the legs out from under the die-hard determination of the Japanese military and give the Emperor the opening needed to order an end to the war - and to do it quickly, the Allies were going to invade. President Truman's decision to use the bomb as soon as it was available was a political decision. It just might give the proud, stubborn Japanese the face-saving excuse they needed to surrender and it would give President Truman political cover with the American people when Operation OLYMPIC casualty figures began to be reported. This is the "inevitable" factor that the now-resigned MoD was referring to.
Stalemate was not an option. Combat-ready, trained, and equipped forces can't be held in absolute readiness indefinitely. Delay just makes the defenses stronger and the price paid to overcome them higher. The invasion would have produced very significant Allied (primarily American) casualties and would most probably have led to the annihilation of Japan’s culture and people.
Based on the comments from Mr. Leeper that you quoted, I somehow doubt that these “facts” make it into presentations that his organization makes. Fine. Just as long as they are recognized for the left wing, once-again-making-excuses-for-America’s-enemies propaganda that they are.
Perhaps one of the most constant failures of youth is the ego delusion that each immature journalism graduate has that every other previous "argument" for the same lame irrational "explanation" that the use of the atomic bombs was "unnecessary" simply wasn't stated clearly enough.
They will keep trying forever. Their name, like ignorance, is legion.
In the end, dropping the bombs saved even more Japanese lives.
Well, we all have our predilections.
Personally, I'm inclined to go back to the late 16th century and talk about Hideyoshi's invasions of Korea, the Seven Year War, with the professed goal of conquering Ming Dynasty China.
Speculating about provocations to Japan in Neanderthal times would be fun too.
Just saying.
For access to northern China (aka Manchuria) - the "more modern day" Root-Takahira Agreement (executed 30 November 1908). To note in the Agreement are the comments on the Philippines (American real estate from the Apanish American War).
For Japan's support to the British Navy during WWI - those formerly held Pacific Islands by Germany - those that became known as the Mandates - went to Japan.
Also, a comparison of the Monroe Doctrine and the Stimson Doctrine might add other perspective here ... but, the ball is a'roundin'
“If the Russians had done it, do you suppose any one would care? There’s your answer. “
I agree-if Stalin had dropped the bomb, the Commies in the media would have considered it an act of heroism in desperate circumstances...
Absolutely, I was station in Okinawa from ‘87-’90 and have been back there several times including last year. Also, my wife is Okinawan.
I studied the invasion while I was there and talked to many of the survivors of whom are now dying off.
I cannot begin to even fathom the rampant ignorance of those who do not think the bomb saved lives... they are a product of liberal indoctrination from our own schools.
Furthermore, the History Channel has had testimonials of mainlanders who acknowledged preparing for an invasion and fighting till the death because the thought of losing was unbearable.
God you liberals are so mentally ill....
Catholic school. Baltimore Catechism..
excellent, and thanks for the link. History is out there, but consult the primary sources, rather that relying upon shills.
Japan did not surrender after the 1st atomic bomb...
Gives you an indication of the mentality....Fight till the last civilian life is spent..
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