Hiroshima -- Why America Dropped the Bomb: Prager University

In August 1945 America dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki to end WWII. Six decades later that decision is still controversial. But should it be? Father Wilson Miscamble, Professor of History at Notre Dame, answers the question in the one of the most powerful five minutes you'll ever see.

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[thapack45]

It's pretty easy to sit at a computer in 2013 and condemn your forefathers. I'm not saying the A-Bombs should have been dropped but if you can't at least see that it was a situation where options were limited and millions were going to die no matter what then you're blind. Maybe you should try blaming Japan instead of blaming America for everything. We get enough of that crap from the rest of the world.

[4amonduul]

What a wretched excuse for a priest/historian - this is right-wing apologetics. Ends justify the means, eh? Some priest. It was either the endless butchery of an invasion or The Bomb, nothing else? Some historian. No mention of the other alternative to incinerating 150K+ people at the press of two buttons, i.e., the "technical demonstration" of the A-bomb's power for the Japanese, with the promise of more to come, that was dismissed out of hand by Truman's advisors.

No nuance at all. Pig.

[KentA Mitchell]

History lesson time: 240,734 died on Okinawa. Over half were Okinawan civilians. By '44/'45 US military could inflict 7 or 8 fatalities for every one they suffered. Kyushu's garrison was x7 larger than Okinawa's. 14 divisions v 2. Do the math.

Or maybe should have blockaded Japan indefinitely. How many MILLIONS of J civilians would have starved before god/boy hirohito gave the surrender order?

[jerm0357jam]

When I referred to"these " I meant Hiroshima, &Nagasaki. Not the intentional genocide or brutal treatment of prisoners. Dropping the atom bomb on Japan can never rate as a crime. Just look as the battle for Okinawa and the loses. In fact if you take this as your blue print for the invasion of Japan, you'll see that far more lives would have been lost. And oh, better them than us.

[Rose NoHo]

Yeah, why lose more white people's lives? Drop the bomb on the Asians.

[jerm0357jam]

These weren't crimes, period. They were a means to end a war, save our lives, and bring the yellow menace to heel. Any other interpretation is absolute and complete revisionists lies. Try to sell your racial lies to someone else.

[majorgeeek]

Nanking, Unit 731, Auschwitz are all prime examples of war crimes but unlike the atomic bombings no rational persons are claiming these crimes were justified.

[Lerak Mahendu]

The Allies firebombed Dresden. Nothing but women, children, and old men there. 25K to 100K dead. At the time, Germany was known to have already been broken in spirit. But coup de grace actions are common in war.

If the island nation Japan (unlike Germany surrounded by Allies and Soviets) resisted surrender after losing 2.5 million people, it's hard to imagine that 5 million more would convince. Besides, why lose more Allied lives?

But it is so much fun accusing white people of racism.

[Lerak Mahendu]

Please, share those hidden facts with us. Otherwise, what's the point of the comment?