Deciding for the bomb

There are many reasons that the Atomic bomb was used on Japan. There are many that criticize the bombing, but I support it. The main reasons for President Harry Truman decided to drop the bomb were, to save lives (American Lives), to bring about a quicker resolution to the war, and to send a message to the world that we now had military supremacy. Growing up in a military family, (with a dad a Vietnam vet, and a grandfather who would have fought in Japan if we had invaded), may have biased my personal opinions, but in my mind it is all a matter of numbers when it comes to war. War is a matter of how many lives each side has to waste, and who runs low first generally surrenders. War is hate by it's own nature. It is a hate that reaches to the core of every citizen, of each side, at some level. I do not believe the bomb was dropped in hate, but in a step toward peace, saving perhaps more lives, than the bombs killed.

When looking at the Japanese, I agree with Fussell, on his ideas that the Japanese citizens were going to continue to fight for their side, even when the ranks of their army had been depleted. At this we see Fussell reference images of children and women with bamboo spears fighting ou

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Had it not been dropped who knows how the cold war and arms race could have turned out, and where it would have started. With Russia frantically trying to develop their own Atomic bomb, and preparing possibly to invade Japan, we let it be known clear that we had the upper hand. The dropping of the bomb started the pissing-contest that would result in an absurd race for destructive power, but a race we could not escape.

Dropping the bomb also sent a message to the rest of the world. They had the belief in them that they were right and their own hate fueled them enough to be admirable fighters. A final reason we dropped the bomb was to win the urban-proverbial pissing contest. Later wars may have turned out very differently. The bomb was dropped to save lives, American lives and Japanese. Time was of the essence, "Allied casualties were running over 7,000 a week," (Fussell 18), and Japanese casualty rates were even higher. It sent a message to the world that we now had a military might of a new unseen kind. The bomb also saved Japanese lives in the long run, because many more would have died in an invasion battle. At this point to those quick to criticize, I must say the bomb kept my grandfather's platoon from having to invade, which is why I agree with Truman's decision. Once the bomb had been made it was going to be dropped, it was going to be used, the message had to be sent. Some people argue it saved only American lives, not Japanese lives. This would lead to years of tension between world super powers.

Approximate Word count = 891
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

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