A Nuclear World

[Edric O]

The question is not so much what would have happened if the US launched a ground invasion on Japan. The question is why did the US drop two nuclear weapons on large cities filled with unsuspecting innocent civilians instead of dropping them on military installations?

Oh, and by the way, if you are justified in killing large numbers of enemy civilians for the sake of reducing military casualties on your side, then the 9/11 attacks were justified. You can pick whatever rules of war you like, but, once you picked them, you have to apply them to everyone - not just yourself.

[Anathema]

Because the Japanese would have stubbornly refused to surrender if there were little casualties. To deter an enemy you must not only prove that you have the power, but also that you're willing to use it. Also you can't say that "Fat Man" came unexpected after the Japanese refused to surrender.

A more interesting question would be wether 9/11 tactics would be legitimate in a true nation vs nation conflict. Not any less then carpet bombing cities into oblivion, I'd say. But the Allies can at least claim that the Axis started, however childish argument that may seem.

[Kiyouta]

Simple: Build a doomsday machine like the one from Dr. Strangelove. :P No more nuclear threat.

[Dunenewt]

It should also be noted that we gave them all the info and the men to make the bomb.

[Caid Ivik]

The question is not so much what would have happened if the US launched a ground invasion on Japan. The question is why did the US drop two nuclear weapons on large cities filled with unsuspecting innocent civilians instead of dropping them on military installations?

Only larger military port in Japan than Hiroshima was that in Kyoto, however american command decided for Hiroshima, as the latter was a larger and historical town.

[Dunenewt]

Damn those crazee Amerikans droppin all them n00ks on them innocent Japs.....

anyway the Japanese were telling their public to all fight to the death, just think how many lives would have been lost.