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From: hofbauer@utcsri.UUCP (John Hofbauer)
Newsgroups: net.politics,net.misc,net.rumor
Subject: Re: Lives saved by nuking Japan?!? (was Re: The Presidents...)
Message-ID: <2945@utcsri.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 10-Jun-86 22:28:27 EDT
Article-I.D.: utcsri.2945
Posted: Tue Jun 10 22:28:27 1986
Date-Received: Tue, 10-Jun-86 22:41:49 EDT
References: <133@petrus.UUCP> <513@mit-trillian.MIT.EDU> <709@jade.BERKELEY.EDU> <2928@jhunix.UUCP> <1161@loral.UUCP> <764@sigma.UUCP>
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> Yes, Japan in WWII was a cruel foe - don't forget Bataan....
> The point I was trying to make was that the nuclear bombings of
> Japan killed civilians, not military personnel engaged in fighting
> us or government officials directing that fight.  Correct me if I'm
> wrong, but I believe there is a moral distinction here, one which is
> codified in the Geneva Convention.
> 
I don't know about the Geneva Convention, but a lot of the conventional
bombing during WWII was directed a civilian targets. Don't forget Dresden,
and many other such cities. Indeed, Tokyo had been leveled just as
completely with conventional bombs as had Hiroshima and Nagasaki with
an A-bomb. The later is just a lot more efficient. Of course, it was
argued that the bombing of cities was necessary because of war industries
nearby but the strategic bombing survey conducted after the war showed
that it was nearly useless and if anything stiffened the resolve of the
people.