[VOA]

4. The bombs were unnecessary, because the Japanese were about to surrender anyway.

yeah, that's why they ran up the white flag after the first one was dropped.

Wait a second...

[Right Angler]

According to the History Channel special about the planned invasion of the home islands, the US has not ordered any new Purple Hearts since 1945. We are still using what the war planners ordered in preparation for the invasion of Japan. That is plain scary...

[shhrubbery!]

yeah, that's why they ran up the white flag after the first one was dropped

IIRC, the Japanese were stunned out of the minds, but did make some noises about surrender after the first bomb.

I believe there's evidence that Japanese communications re surrender were mistranslated.

Don't get me wrong, I think Truman made the right decision with the first bomb. It's the second I'm not so sure about. But, when the commander-in-chief gets faulty intelligence, can we really blame him?