Was the US justified in dropping atomic bombs in the above-named cities?
Some historians contend that the the Japanese would have surrendered just the same just by using conventional bombs.

The U.S. is justifying it since it prevented having too many casualties on their part. I think they tried land invasion in Okinawa with too many casualties. They claimed it shortened the war, making the Japanese think after the second bombing with threats of more similar devastation.

:patrioticpinoy: it may be surprising for some people to know that the Jap army was never really defeated decisively in the field of battle. it never sustained an all-crippling blow. The losses they incurred during the Allied island hopping, were never in army, army group, or corps sized (unlike the germans in stalingrad). In short it survived intact through the war and was in fact used by mcArthur to police some chaotic foreighn cities after the war. (jap army still numbered more than a million men with very operational organizations).

Although the Jap army was said to be intact, a good portion of it and their equipment were in China, other countries, and in some islands that were by-passed. Japan herself was garrisoned by second line troops but were said to be 1st line fanatics.

Nagasaki and Hiroshima were just an opportunity to show-off america's new weapon. Truman saw it fit to test it here and offered the excuse of saving lives as justification.

The militaristic japanese devastated the Philippines. Of course it was right to use it!

Forget the past and start life anew. Let's not be sentimental and vindictive like Sison. Everyone has shortcomings. The issue is who's stubborn and who's not and has mended his ways. AFP is fighting for a good cause. CPP-NPA is not.

Japanese man certified as double A-bomb victim

By MARI YAMAGUCHI, Associated Press writer Mari Yamaguchi, Associated Press Writer – 1 hr 28 mins ago

TOKYO – A 93-year-old Japanese man has become the first person certified as a survivor of both U.S. atomic bombings at the end of World War II, officials said Tuesday.

Tsutomu Yamaguchi had already been a certified "hibakusha," or radiation survivor, of the Aug. 9, 1945, atomic bombing in Nagasaki, but has now been confirmed as surviving the attack on Hiroshima three days earlier as well, city officials said.

Yamaguchi was in Hiroshima on a business trip on Aug. 6, 1945, when a U.S. B-29 dropped an atomic bomb on the city. He suffered serious burns to his upper body and spent the night in the city. He then returned to his hometown of Nagasaki just in time for the second attack, city officials said.

"As far as we know, he is the first one to be officially recognized as a survivor of atomic bombings in both Hiroshima and Nagasaki," Nagasaki city official Toshiro Miyamoto said. "It's such an unfortunate case, but it is possible that there are more people like him."

Certification qualifies survivors for government compensation — including monthly allowances, free medical checkups and funeral costs — but Yamaguchi's compensation will not increase, Miyamoto said.

Japan is the only country to have suffered atomic bomb attacks. About 140,000 people were killed in Hiroshima and 70,000 in Nagasaki.

Yamaguchi is one of about 260,000 people who survived the attacks. Bombing survivors have developed various illnesses from radiation exposure, including cancer and liver illnesses.

Details of Yamaguchi's health problems were not released.

Thousands survivors continue to seek official recognition after the government rejected their eligibility for compensation. The government last year eased the requirements for being certified as a survivor, following criticism the rules were too strict and neglected many who had developed illnesses that doctors have linked to radiation.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090324/ap_on_...28sXSby.hdvaA8F

Here's a good argument about why the U.S. was justified in dropping the bomb.

Video Link