It was revealed this evening that Jon thought the first one should have been dropped near the shore, to show its power.
That dumbass doesn’t realize Japan did not give up after the hit on Hiroshima. Dealing with historical idiots with a camera is getting pretty old.
Would it surprise the idiot if he learned that this possibility was given careful consideration -- then rejected for very good reason.
It was proposed that an uninhabited island near the Japanese coast be the initial target. The Japanese government would be notified and asked to send observers to the demonstration. Presumably, they would be stunned at the power of the weapon and recommend the government sue for peace.
But there were problems. First and foremost, there were only three devices -- one uranium-based ("Little Boy") and two plutonium ("Fat Man"). It would be at least six months before another could be assembled.
While everybody was confident the relatively simple uranium device would perform as planned, the more complicated plutonium device was a bit of a mystery -- how well would it work, if at all.
Obviously, the plutonium device couldn't be used for a demonstration. It might not work. And, if "Little Boy" was used for the demonstration, we wouldn't know whether what we still held in reserve would work.
This led to the Alamogordo test at Trinity Site -- where one of the plutonium devices was detonated. Successfully.
But now there were only two weapons. If one was used in a demonstration, there would be only one left. And, if the Japanese didn't respond to the demonstration, the one remaining bomb would be the only chance to end the war. What if the plane carrying it was shot down? Or it was dropped...and the Japanese still didn't respond.
As we now know, one wasn't enough. It took two.
And anybody who believes Harry Truman is a war criminal should be forced to repeat the Bataan Death March.
Stewart is an idiot.