Hoover vs. the Hoover Institution

[arisbe]

"I told MacArthur of my memorandum of mid-May 1945 to Truman, that peace could be had with Japan by which our major objectives would be accomplished. MacArthur said that was correct and that we would have avoided all of the losses, the Atomic bomb, and the entry of Russia into Manchuria."

Two days after the dropping of the bomb, Hoover wrote, "The use of the atomic bomb, with its indiscriminate killing of women and children, revolts my soul."

[Via young Marcus Epstein.]

Comments

[marxist-thug.livejournal.com]

I disagree with Hoover's assessment.

[kosub.livejournal.com]

I've never been much interested in this debate, since it's not one that demands an either-or resolution. Was using the atomic bomb a terrible act? Absolutely. Anyone who can defend wholesale slaughter of civilians by saying it's not horrible... that person has a screw loose. But was the decision to drop the bomb at least well-considered? Yes.

War is horrible, and innocent death is horrible. Both should be avoided at all costs. At the same time, when war is in progress and decisions must be made, sometimes morally repugnant alternatives are all one has. That's the nature of war. And whatever else the A-bombs did in Japan, they did manage to bring a halt to hostilities. Should we ever do such a thing again? Well, we should try not to, but a situation may arise where such an awful choice must be made again. Pity those who have to make it.