Obama Wants To Visit Hiroshima And Nagasaki

[justingroves]

On the one hand, the dropping of the bomb undeniably brought a quicker end to the war in the Pacfific and probably staved off confrontation back in Europe with Russia. Hundreds of thousands of lives, maybe even millions, were saved in that instant. We had it, we used it, it worked. And it is hard to argue with that logic at all.

On the other hand, the instantaenous and horrible death and destruction it caused is also undeniable. In the blink of an eye, tens of thousands were killed with many tens if not hundreds of thousands more to follow. And they were mostly civilians.

It was a terrible choice to make, either way.

Absolutely not. End the war or keep fighting for God knows how long?

 

[BeecherVol]

Chickens and cows framed the dolphins and whales. Why does the U.S. need to apologize for anything?

Great question for the president.

 

[wbailey7]

Chickens and cows framed the dolphins and whales. Why does the U.S. need to apologize for anything?

Effin' Dolpheeeeeens.

 

[T-TownVol]

I don't know what everyone expects here.

On the one hand, the dropping of the bomb undeniably brought a quicker end to the war in the Pacfific and probably staved off confrontation back in Europe with Russia. Hundreds of thousands of lives, maybe even millions, were saved in that instant. We had it, we used it, it worked. And it is hard to argue with that logic at all.

On the other hand, the instantaenous and horrible death and destruction it caused is also undeniable. In the blink of an eye, tens of thousands were killed with many tens if not hundreds of thousands more to follow. And they were mostly civilians.

It was a terrible choice to make, either way.

Japan has apologized repeatedly for WWII and admitted fault. I don't think we need to "apologize" for Hiroshima or Nagasaki because we did what we thought was best at the time and a good argument can be made that it was.

I honestly don't think there is anything to say at this point.

We wish.

 

[Elmer Gantry]

Helmut Kohl and Ronald Reagan at the Military Cemetery in Bitburg (May 5, 1985)
Google Image Result for http://germanhistorydocs.ghi-dc.org/images/Versoehnung%20ueb%20Graebern.jpg

On September 22, 1984, Helmut Kohl and François Mitterand had joined hands in a symbolic moment at Verdun. As an equivalent to this historic gesture, Helmut Kohl invited U.S. President Ronald Reagan to make a joint visit to the Bitburg Military Cemetery in West Germany. Forty years after the end of the war, this visit was supposed to be a gesture of reconciliation. Approximately 50 members of the Waffen-SS, however, were among the 2,000 soldiers buried in Bitburg, and this fact sparked vehement protests, both in Germany and abroad. This picture shows (from left to right) President Ronald Reagan, General Matthew B. Ridgway (Commander of the 82nd Paratrooper Division during WW II), General Johannes Steinhoff (Luftwaffe pilot during WW II) and Chancellor Helmut Kohl during a wreath-laying ceremony on May 5, 1985.

 

[Co. Aytch]

Man, you boys get heavy

 

[Plano Vol]

The Japanese probably caused an equivalent amount of death in Nanking in the late thirties.....the big difference is they did it humanely with bayonets. If any U.S. president apologizes for any part of WWII to the former Axis nations, they should be immediately impeached.

 

[DC Vol]

The Japanese probably caused an equivalent amount of death in Nanking in the late thirties.....the big difference is they did it humanely with bayonets. If any U.S. president apologizes for any part of WWII to the former Axis nations, they should be immediately impeached.

So the Japanese Liberal Party outright called Nanjing "lies and propaganda" and our Liberal Party is apologizing for bringing an end to a war, by the best means necessary, that we didn't even start.

Not to mention Japanese textbooks at the middle and high school levels barely acknowledge it... much less put any responsibility on Japan.



Not that ad hominem attacks are the best way to engage in diplomacy... I'm just sick of having the US constantly demonized while the rest of the world quietly (or not-so-quietly) sweeps their dirt (and there is plenty to go around) under the rug.