Hiroshima 80 years on

Cue the knee-jerk reactions from non-skeptical leftists who won't read, or knee-jerk reject the findings of, Richard Frank's "Downfall", Marc Gallicchio's "Unconditional," and A.M. Giangreco's "Truman and the Bomb."

 See expanded thoughts on the first, and somewhat the second, books here. 

Per all three, I don't like the use of the bomb, not just once, but also the second time at Nagasaki, but embrace it as the least bad option in terms of lessening not just U.S. deaths, but allied deaths and even Japanese deaths. (A tight sea blockade of another six months would have killed far more Japanese by starvation, not to mention ongoing non-nuclear bombing, etc.)

I have broad related thoughts here on the 70th anniversary. I talk here about rejecting the idea of "justified" vs "unjustified."

I note here that, no, Russia didn't cause the surrender.

Let us quote Hirohito’s Imperial rescript, at that link.

Despite the best that has been done by everyone – the gallant fighting of the military and naval forces, the diligence and assiduity of Our servants of the State, and the devoted service of Our one hundred million people – the war situation has developed not necessarily to Japan's advantage, while the general trends of the world have all turned against her interest.

Moreover, the enemy has begun to employ a new and most cruel bomb, the power of which to do damage is, indeed, incalculable, taking the toll of many innocent lives. Should We continue to fight, not only would it result in an ultimate collapse and obliteration of the Japanese nation, but also it would lead to the total extinction of human civilization.

One can try to read the Russian invasion of Manchuria into the end of the first paragraph, the “general trends of the world have turned against her interest.”

But, it’s still secondary to the second paragraph.

It’s also hypocritical as hell in the last sentence of the second paragraph, Hirohito’s claim to claim that he was surrendering Japan to prevent “the total extinction of human civilization.

Per “Unconditional,” let us quote the end of that rescript.

“Seeing that the situation had developed not necessarily to his advantage, Hirohito finally relented.”

That’s what we faced.

Don’t let the non-skeptical leftists continue to pull the wool over your eyes.

One can dislike US imperialism and dislike the former Japanese imperialism far more at the same time.

And, since the 75th anniversary post, I've read Bucky Sheftall's "Hiroshima: The Last Witnesses" and was not that impressed. 

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Companion piece: No, Nagasaki did not directly lead to or contribute to the division of Korea.