Xev and I had an exchange regarding America's use of nuclear weapons, their impact on bringing a speedy resolution to the war, and specifically, what did Truman know, and when did he know it. Although it has been almost a year, I never forgot, and have done more research regarding this issue. The thread. The exchange. Related thread. My thoughts: Truman personally authorized the Hiroshima bomb but a part of the order authorizing the first bomb provided that additional bombs would be utilized as they "become available". Truman was personally briefed on the effects of the Hiroshima bomb and shown photos of the destruction on August 9. While Stimson's diary notes that Truman remarked on "the terrible responsibility that such destruction placed upon us here and himself", he took no action to alter his previous order that additional bombs would be used as they "become available". Perhaps Truman was unaware just how soon a second bomb would actually "become available" but he certainly knew it would be available within a week at the most and, in fact, the Nagasaki bomb was used within hours after Truman's "terrible responsibility" comment. Following the Nagasaki bomb, on August 10 Truman informed his Cabinet that he had prohibited the use of further bombs without his express approval - indicating that perhaps he did not wish a third bomb to be dropped. However, four days later on August 14, apparently frustrated by the continuing refusal of the Japanese to surrender, he informed the British that, he had "no choice but to drop an atomic bomb on Tokyo." which would indicate a willingness on Truman's part to use additional atomic bombs if necessary to force the surrender. Fortunately, the Japanese surrendered before that he was required to make that decision. A fair reading of this record would seem to be that only after Truman had fully digested the awful reality of the actual atomic bombings did he develop a reluctance to continue using them - and that reluctance arose only after the Nagasaki bomb had been used. And, despite that reluctance, he was fully prepared to authorize the use of additional bombs if the Japanese surrender was not forthcoming. These things develop an awful momentum of their own, and there is ample evidence in the historical record to indicate that it was the Nagasaki bomb which resolved Hirohito to "take charge" of the situation and command the surrender, as it destroyed the claims of the anti-surrender faction that the US could only have had a single bomb and a repeat of the Hiroshima experience was not to be feared. :m: Peace
Ummm, wow, what are you, like, an elephent? Gots to do some reading. *Cough* Plus I have a life and don't remember what happened here a year ago *cough cough*Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
Thats because you drink to much. That makes sense. I don't think that Truman would have used the bombs as they "become available". I think that Truman knew that using a third bomb would make the USA, and him, look bad. You do have to take image into account.
As a person brought up during the war.... I think it was the old.. Them or Us syndrome.... and " enough was enough "... Bomb the bastards until they quit... It worked.... and the world was grateful at the time...
