The belief was that the bombs would save lives compared to an invasion on both sides. There’s been a lot of retrospective analysis, but most of it agrees with that assessment. An invasion of Japan would have been absolutely ruinous for Japan’s civilian population. But it’s still a question of whether the ends justify the means in a lesser of two evils situation.
I can see that viewpoint and not argue against it, that might be totally right. I’m trying to point out that agreeing with it and being the person or one of the main people who made the bomb possible are very different.
Being ok with the decision as a member of a country at war and being ok with the decision as someone who made the bomb are very different.
The belief was that the bombs would save lives compared to an invasion on both sides. There’s been a lot of retrospective analysis, but most of it agrees with that assessment. An invasion of Japan would have been absolutely ruinous for Japan’s civilian population. But it’s still a question of whether the ends justify the means in a lesser of two evils situation.
I can see that viewpoint and not argue against it, that might be totally right. I’m trying to point out that agreeing with it and being the person or one of the main people who made the bomb possible are very different.
Being ok with the decision as a member of a country at war and being ok with the decision as someone who made the bomb are very different.