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The decision to drop the nuclear bombs on Japan at the end of World War II has been the subject of much debate ever since its occurrence. President Truman and his advisors were faced with the dilemma of determining the fate of hundreds of thousands of lives, both American and Japanese. In the end, I believe that he made the correct decision and that the outcome was greater than it otherwise would have been.

Upon defeating Nazi Germany, the US became increasingly concerned with the war on the Pacific front. Although the US had experienced large gains over the Japanese military, the Japanese government remained firm in its resolve not to "unconditionally surrender" as the Allied Forces demanded. The US, on the other hand, would not waver in the terms which it had set and which had been met by Germany. The US was now within striking distance of Japan and was conducting bombing raids in many of Japan's major cities, including Tokyo where 83,000 people had lost their lives. Still, Japan was stubborn in its reluctance to surrender.

The US was worried that Japan would receive aid from the Soviet Union which would drag out the defeat, but still Truman and top US officials had various options. There was a possibility that the Soviets would enter the war against Japan and would extinguish Japanese hopes for aid, resulting in surrender, but Soviet assistance also meant that they would have a say in the new government. The US was largely displeased with the Soviet Union's actions in establishing Eastern European governments and therefore didn't want them to be included in Japan's post-war reconstruction efforts. The other plausible plan was a full scale US invasion of Japan which predicted as many as 250,000 US casualties and possibly 750,000 Japanese casualties. This invasion would obliterate the Japanese military and any industry which could contribute to their war effort. An unconditional Japanese surrender under other circumstances seemed improbable due to their determination and the communications they relayed to the US government.

Nevertheless, the US was planning to test the atomic bomb some time in mid-July and Truman hoped that the test would prove successful. Dropping the bomb in a surprise attack on a war-production center was the most viable option because it could both demonstrate the new, powerful weapon that the US had and also prove tactical. Revealing its power on an island might have resulted in a backfire if the bomb were faulty or if the Japanese weren't convinced that the US had more. Contrary to what many people seem to believe, the US atomic bomb targets were not simply civilian populations, but they were picked for their war industry and relative lack of innocent civilians.

After successful tests and ample warning to Japan, Truman ordered that the bombs be dropped. The devastation was enough to convince Emperor Hirohito to surrender after the second bomb.

In the end, using the atomic bombs proved to be the best option. It saved hundreds of thousands of lives; in fact, it probably spared the lives of more Japanese citizens than an invasion -- the next best option -- would have. Truman made a vital decision which in almost every aspect has proven to be the best one.

About the Author

Blake Taylor has written many articles about political, financial, and economic issues. To learn more about finance or economics, visit www.fundamentalfinance.com. To read other political articles, go to www.fundamentalfinance.com/blogs.