This is true. But the atom bomb being used twice on civilians was not the only other option available. Jebus has pointed one out.Quote:
Originally Posted by OwlsFan
Printable View
This is true. But the atom bomb being used twice on civilians was not the only other option available. Jebus has pointed one out.Quote:
Originally Posted by OwlsFan
Firstly they only had two bombs and secondly but for the Emperor's intervention when he saw the results of the atomic bombs, they would have fought on. The Emperor or any Japanese General wouldn't have accepted an invitation to watch a trial run of a bomb. This sort of thing is fantasy for anyone who studied the Japanese psyche in WW2.Quote:
Originally Posted by jebus
Secondly, "melting" a 100 thousand people or so is the lesser evil compared to the deaths of millions and the total destruction of the Japanese mainland and that's what it would have come down to.
Thirdly, if an atomic bomb had never been dropped who would have believed the effect of them and the Cold War might just have escalated to the Very Hot War but for the deterrent effect of having seen what the bombs did.
It wasn't just the Japanese pysche of WW2, but thats besides the point. Again if the Emperor or any of the generals refused to believe that America had this power, then once again there could be no blame attached to America for doing what they did. The fact of the matter is that they wiped out two cities (certainly one of them didn't have to go) without giving Japan any warning of what they could do. (I know America has said that they didn't realise that the cities would be wiped out like that, but I think thats a lie)Quote:
Originally Posted by OwlsFan
Thats speculative. For all we know the Japs would have held them on the coastline until such a time as a treaty could be signed. I know people say that the Japanese would never have surrendered, but needless deaths in a war can change people's minds, if the people started speaking out about it the Emperor might have taken action. We just don't know what would have happenedQuote:
Originally Posted by OwlsFan
Again that's speculative. I could also say that had the world not known how powerful the bomb was then the Cold War wouldn't have been as intense, as the USSR wouldn't have rushed as much as they did to get their own nuclear warheads, their might not have been a Cuban Missle Crisis, JFK might not have been shot, and the rest of the world still wouldn't be living in fear of countries like North Korea or Iran getting the bombQuote:
Originally Posted by OwlsFan
.... and if your aunt had balls she'd be your uncle.
The Fabulous Moolah.
Longest reigning female wrestling champion of all time, something like 20-odd years
Meanwhile, in an actual sport, Nils Liedholm, scorer of the opening goal in the 1958 World Cup Final - the game which really shot Pele to fame - and later manager of, among others, the Roma team undone by Bruce Grobbelaar's spaghetti legs.
The Japanese made offers of surrender to AmericaQuote:
Originally Posted by OwlsFan
But they wanted to play with their new bomb
Max Hastings has a book coming out dealing with the 2nd World War in the Pacific. It deals with a lot of these points. He was on Pat Kenny yesterday morning. Sounds interesting for those who like history.Quote:
Originally Posted by jebus
Farewell to Nana Moon off EastEnders. She died yesterday.
Literary nut-job (and giant in fairness) Norman Mailer died today.
balls :(Quote:
Originally Posted by stann
Was memorable in "When we were Kings" documentary, about the Ali-Foreman fight in Zaire.Quote:
Originally Posted by stann
Ian Smith, former leader of what was then called Rhodesia under white rule and who fought a war against African nationalists costing upwards of 30,000 lives.
Said the country would go to the dogs under majority rule... and Mugabe went and proved the old reprobate correct :(
The British said that about Ireland as well and they were right for about 70 years ;)
Dr. J. Robert Cade. Who? you say. Inventor of Gatorade sports drink. Story.
History of Gatorade.
Cool Gatorade ad.
Never drank the stuff. Was it like Lucozade?
No, it's just a non carbonated sports drink, in different flavors. It's excellent for re-hydration. Actually, it helps with hangovers too.Quote:
Originally Posted by OwlsFan
Kevin dubrow.
RIP.
Alka-Seltzer before you go to bed is the best hangover preventative.Quote:
Originally Posted by strangeirish