Japanese Defense Minister angers citizens.

[DeathBeforeDenial]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6256840.stm

His quote: "The nuclear bombs dropped by the United States on Japan in 1945 were the inevitable way to end World War II." and "[the bombs] could prompt Japan's surrender, thus preventing the Soviet Union from declaring war against Japan".

Im interested in seeing how second and third generation post WWII are taking those comments, it has obviously outraged the generation effected by it.

[Benevolent_Ghaleon]

and its funny. there isn't any benefit for them in sitting at home pissed off.

[BattleMedic]

Maybe he said that to make the citizens of the United States feel better?

[Benevolent_Ghaleon]

Maybe he said that to make the citizens of the United States feel better?

made ME chuckle!

[Boris Moskovitz]

Made me laugh too. The guy's a big-time IRL troll.

[JWL]

I don't see what the problem is with what he said. It's not like he said, "Yeah, those Americans sure taught us a lesson! Hurrah for their nukes!" He just pointed out the reason why the US resorted to nukes, and many historians argue that a lengthy ground war actually would have cost more lives - on both sides - than those nukes did.

Obviously blowing up hundreds of thousands of people is an evil act, but the alternative was also evil. President Truman didn't decide to unleash the nukes because he was some kind of crazed madman; he did so after looking at the alternative.

[Dragonmaster Lou]

Obviously blowing up hundreds of thousands of people is an evil act, but the alternative was also evil. President Truman didn't decide to unleash the nukes because he was some kind of crazed madman; he did so after looking at the alternative.

True. War is messy, ugly, evil, cruel, and should be avoided at all costs. Still, if it cannot be avoided, often you are stuck with multiple decisions that could be considered "evil," and sometimes you have to choose the lesser of the two evils.

Hundreds of thousands of Japanese died from the nukes. Millions on both sides would've died if there was a ground invasion. As bad as using the nukes was, given the circumstances, it probably was the better decision.

[DeathBeforeDenial]

UPDATE:

Fumio Kyuma had officially resigned as Japanese Defense Minister as of July 3rd.

Initially stating an apology for statements made would not be in order, later that day he apologized on Fuji TV. However when his apology could not settle his critics he decided to resign in order to calm his detractors and not let his presence be a negative to the Prime Minister.


Well, it's to be expected that the two atomic bombs are still of a very sensitive nature in Japan. The Nanjing Massacre is certainly still a sore spot to the Chinese. In 10 or 20 years when all those that experienced it have passed on perhaps there can be a more open dialogue about the use of the atomic bomb to end WWII.

[Benevolent_Ghaleon]

it takes a while for stuff to feel less "real" and become a joking matter. imagine using some of the jew jokes back when it was JUST over.