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Would you consider the atomic bombs a war crime?

Discussion in 'Atomic Bombs In the Pacific' started by thecanadianfool, May 5, 2012.

  1. A-58

    A-58 Cool Dude

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    The third one would be for GP (general purpose) since the Japanese were such total b@$tards.
     
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  2. Biak

    Biak Boy from Illinois Staff Member

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    :rofl:

    I mean ....

    NO
     
  3. formerjughead

    formerjughead The Cooler King

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    The old "NEENER-NEENER"
     
  4. OpanaPointer

    OpanaPointer I Point at Opana Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    This might be a good place to once again mention that the Presidential orders to use the bombs did not have to be repeated for each one. LeMay had two more bombs in the pipeline, the ones used at the Able and Baker tests, and Marshall could have released more to him if he felt the need.
     
  5. A-58

    A-58 Cool Dude

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    Fire at will eh? I like it.
     
  6. formerjughead

    formerjughead The Cooler King

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    It's really too bad that so many of these threads devolve into nonsense and jibberish; because I would really love to find the link to the article, from a previous itteration of this subject, wich discussed the use of the atomics in a tactical role ahead of invasion forces. It seems I remember the authority to use them would have been given to the Task Force or Theater Commander.
     
  7. Biak

    Biak Boy from Illinois Staff Member

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  8. formerjughead

    formerjughead The Cooler King

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    No....I think it's something that Pointer brought to the table. It outlined the the delay to invading the "Home Islands" until enough weapons were available to be used ahead of amphibious landings. Using the weapons in a tactical role instead of "strategiac"
     
  9. 36thID

    36thID Member

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    I think this is what you're looking for. The minutes from the August 13th meeting states this.

    General George C. Marshall and the Atomic Bombing of Japan

    Marshall believed the Japanese would not surrender after the nuclear bombs were dropped. There is a reference from Marshall to General Groves about stockpiling these bombs for the November Invasion.
     
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  10. urqh

    urqh Tea drinking surrender monkey

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    Blimey, using it as a tactical weapon before troops invade was a problem many have tried to deal with ever since..hence neutron bomb. ....It surely would have been a disaster to any mobile force planning if used in such a way he envisaged...the transport and communication problems it would cause would have been horrendous for troops of that year to cope with and have to maybe fight as well...
     
  11. OpanaPointer

    OpanaPointer I Point at Opana Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    http://www.publichealth.va.gov/docs/radiation/atomic-veteran-brochure.pdf
     
  12. Tamino

    Tamino Doc - The Deplorable

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    Regretfully, there was just one more available. ;)
     
  13. A-58

    A-58 Cool Dude

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    Urqh, I think that the few generals that heard of the a-bomb figured that they were just really big bombs that made a lot of noise, tore up a lot of stuff and left a big hole.
     
  14. OpanaPointer

    OpanaPointer I Point at Opana Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    Admiral Leahy guaranteed that it wouldn't work.
     
  15. formerjughead

    formerjughead The Cooler King

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    Ahh Young Grasshopper.......but how many would have been ready for the beginning of Operation Downfall / Coronet?

    [SUP]
    [/SUP]
     
  16. Tamino

    Tamino Doc - The Deplorable

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    I wish you were right, but according to the memo between General John E. Hull and Colonel L. E. Seeman on 13 August, about atomic bomb production in the next few months there was just one ready to be shipped out to Tinian at that very moment. According to Seeman, it would be ready for use on 19 August. Michael Gordin claims that the third drop would 'probably' have been on Tokyo.
    View attachment 28380
     

    Attached Files:

  17. A-58

    A-58 Cool Dude

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    And dear ole Mac thought that they were totally unnecessary, and would take away HIS smoke. Of course he wasn't going to be in the first wave either.
     
  18. OpanaPointer

    OpanaPointer I Point at Opana Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    Richard Rhodes said eight more would have been ready by the end of 1946, IIRC.
     
  19. A-58

    A-58 Cool Dude

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    Yeah but they didn't know that. Gotta keep the poker face on you know.
     
  20. Tamino

    Tamino Doc - The Deplorable

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    That's correct but in August there were just three bombs; John Ray Skates uses the same data and sources. At that time generals haven't understood the danger of using bombs for their own troops. Therefore, quick surrender of Japan after the first two bombs has saved American soldiers from entering the battlefield shortly after the nuclear attack.
     

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