Atomic Bombing of Japan: Necessity or Barbarism?

WAS THE ATOMIC BOMBING OF JAPAN (HIROSHIMA AND NAGASAKI) IN 1945 NECESSARY?
INTRODUCTION
After America had successfully tested the atomic bomb in mid-July 1945, the United States President was eager to use it as one of the weapons of ending the Second World War. Despite the evidence gathered from the testing of this bomb that it had far reaching effects than other normal bombs, President Harry Truman still went forth to have a chart with his allies on the possibility of using the bomb as a way of forcing Japan to surrender. To many, this was a seriously barbarous act that has ever been recorded in the history of the world. Thus, there have always been discussions as to whether the use of the bomb was necessary or not. Many views have been put forth to either defend President Harry Truman or to criticize his decision. The shocking part of these is that

the questioning comes even from the members of the American war soldiers who took part in the Second World War. Thus in this paper, I'll be trying to examine the necessity of Nagasaki and Hiroshima atomic bombing. In order to be able to analyze this situation, two main sources will be considered. These sources include: Hiroshima: Was it Necessary? By Doug Long and the Pacific War Historical Society.

Source one: Hiroshima Bombing, was it Necessary? By Doug Long

Man or humanity? This is the question that rings in my mind whenever I reason in the line the act that was done in the two regions of Japan in 1945. It is therefore somehow safe to believe that man is still in the process of becoming human, a process that we know not when it will come to completion. Whenever the mind is allowed to think in the line of bombing fellow man is an act that can be termed as lacking things to do or simply being idle. The human mind if allowed to wander is more inclined to make wayward decisions. The holy book says that we should guard our hearts (mind) with all diligence for out of it come the issues of life. Thus, the question remains is convenience an excuse when it comes to dealing with life? President Harry Truman and his war Allies acted as any other unreasonable man could have done if found in the same situation showing loss human compassion of doing to others what you wish them to do unto you.

By America opting to use the newly tested weapon on humanity was a complete lack of compassion on other people. Consider for a time the diverse effects that followed afterward. This weapon cannot be compared to any other bomb in the world even now. In fact, it is a downgrade of this weapon if we call it a bomb for its effects are more injurious than any other. It has the potential of altering the genetic composition of humans. Thus, weighing the views of many firsthand witnesses it is evident that the use of the bomb was not necessary. The chairman of the war records the following statement, "Bomb is the wrong word to use for this new weapon. It is not a bomb. It is not an explosive. It is a poisonous thing that kills people by its deadly radioactive reaction, more than by the explosive force it develops. My own feeling is that in being the first to use it, we had adopted an ethical standard common to barbarians of the Dark Ages. I was not taught to make war in that fashion, and wars cannot be won by destroying women and children." These words are enough to conclude that even the chairman of the war was not consulted. This indicates that the President was simply interested in his own praise. The aftermath of the bomb is so devastating.
By the time that the bomb was being dropped in the two regions of Japan, the Japan soldiers had shown evidence of defeat and at this time, the only option was to surrender. Therefore, if they were to be given a little longer time, the war could have come to the end without using this bomb. America was interested in killing people as a way of showing their military power and sending a signal to Russia of how strong their weapons were compared with those of Russia. This further indicates that the reason behind America's decision was not even ending the war but using Japan as an experimental ground of demonstrating their military power. This is a clear point-out that this bombing was not necessary.

The government had even the chance of dropping the bomb in an inhabited area but they chose not to do. Instead, they opted for Hiroshima and then Nagasaki in a span of fewer than Seven days. They never allowed Japanese people to consider the consequences of the first bombing showing the other intentions of the US government. Killing people for their own glory. From the information above it is, therefore, safe to conclude that even without dropping the atomic bomb, America could have still won the war, it was, therefore, unnecessary to make use of this weapon in Japan.

THE PACIFIC WAR HISTORICAL SOCIETY
From this source, we try to examine whether the decision of the US government is justifiable.

For instance, consider Harry Truman's statement below.
"I realize the tragic significance of the atomic bomb...having found the bomb, we have used it. We have used it against those who attacked us without warning at Pearl Harbor, against those who have starved and beaten and executed American prisoners of war, against those who have abandoned all pretense of obeying international laws of warfare. We have used it in order to shorten the agony of young Americans. We shall continue to use it until we completely destroy Japan's power to make war. Only a Japanese surrender will stop us." From this point of view, America's decision is justified since it is clear that Japanese not only fought but also captured and tortured the prisoners of war, killed non-combatants, raping and looting and even the mass slaughter of Chinese civilians. The President was aware of this and to some extent, his decision can be justified. Furthermore, the Japanese war men were filled with ideas of racial

discrimination.

Japan was not willing to give up the home islands in the loss and therefore, they were so determined to defend their country to last man standing. The Japanese government is to be blamed to some extent for the actions that led to the dropping of the two atomic bombs. The Potsdam declaration plan was invented as the conventional way of ending the war. Instead of the government of Japan adopting the plan they were determined to ignore the same plan. This left President Truman in a serious dilemma and thus fueling his decision. Also, Japanese emperor was trying to motivate the citizens to defend their nation until the last man dies, this could have brought serious casualties than those brought about by the two atomic bombs.
In order to weaken Japan, Truman targeted the military bases of Japan, Nagasaki and Hiroshima and thus bringing the war to an instant end. The reasons for the action of dropping the bombs in these two areas are: because a) the Emperor of Japan and his government refused to surrender and were preparing the Japanese people for a fight to the death as a nation, (b) there were no readily discernable large military or industrial targets available for conventional air attack, and
(c) The Allies faced the prospect of incurring horrendous battle casualties from a conventional amphibious invasion of Japan. Basing from this source, it is, therefore, safe to conclude that the bombing was necessary as it served the intended purpose of bringing the Second World War to an end.

In my opinion, it is safe to at times save more lives than watch people dying always. Considering the consequences that could have followed if the war was to continue most probably all the Japanese people could have died if they followed the advice of their emperor of defending their nation till they all die. Thus, to my view Truman's actions are justifiable and the use of the bomb was necessary for spite of their devastating consequences.