"We call upon the government of Japan to proclaim now the unconditional surrender of all Japanese armed forces, and to provide proper and adequate assurances of their good faith in such action. The alternative for Japan is prompt and utter destruction."

July 26th

"We are now prepared to obliterate rapidly and completely every productive enterprise the Japanese have ... It was to spare the Japanese from utter destruction that the ultimatum of July 26 was issued at Potsdam. Their leaders promptly rejected that ultimatum. If they do not now accept our terms they may expect a rain of ruin from the air, the like of which has never been seen on earth."

August 6th...first bomb

August 9th second bomb


Despite the best that has been done by everyone — the gallant fighting of the military and naval forces, the diligence and assiduity of Our servants of the State, and the devoted service of Our one hundred million people — the war situation has developed not necessarily to Japan's advantage, while the general trends of the world have all turned against her interest.
Moreover, the enemy has begun to employ a new and most cruel bomb, the power of which to do damage is, indeed, incalculable, taking the toll of many innocent lives. Should we continue to fight, not only would it result in an ultimate collapse and obliteration of the Japanese nation, but also it would lead to the total extinction of human civilization.
Such being the case, how are We to save the millions of Our subjects, or to atone Ourselves before the hallowed spirits of Our Imperial Ancestors? This is the reason why We have ordered the acceptance of the provisions of the Joint Declaration of the Powers.

August 15th surrender.....over.

While IMHO I think it was overkill (no pun intended) to drop two bombs and the choice of targets very unsettling, it was a military strategy and it worked exactly the way it was drawn up.As much as it was a means to an end it to the war and Japans quest for an empire,it was also a wake up call for all the rest of the earth to pay attention.

Fact is it ended the war in a flash (once again,no pun intended) undeniably saving many,many lives in the long run I think.While its true the Japs were in deep poop and more or less blockaded anyway, a drawn out final battle certainly couldve been the alternative.Given the nationalistic pride shown by so many of the Japanese military,the final battle couldve proved extremely costly for the US.Given the ten of thousands of soldiers already lost in the war ,a quick end was obviously a cherished outcome.Imagine we had the capacity to end the Iraq war ina two week span? Would you want that?

People can argue till the end of time if the ends justified the means.Theres no way to be right or wrong on this one folks.

I always questioned why a more remote area,perhaps more military wasnt vaporized first before going right into urban enviroments.Somewhere we couldve said,go look and see the destruction then ask yourself do you want to subject your people to this?

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