Abstract
The disarmament policy has been unavoidable in many UN Security Council and G20 meetings recently. It has even caused the drafting and signing of many Non-proliferation treaties in the world of late. However, as much as the world security councils and conferences focus on these it of paramount importance to look back into history of what these weapons of mass destruction can do. This write up focus on the pros and cons of the bombings of the two cities of Japan: Hiroshima and Nagasaki during the Second World War.
Background information
During the course of the Second World War, On August 6 1945, the US military bombed the two famous cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This flattened these two cities causing countless deaths and hitherto sufferings. The duration of these bombings was only three days after striking Hiroshima. On the August 6 and 9 of 1945, the two major cities of Japan, Hiroshima and Nagasaki were destroyed by the US army. This was the first time that atomic bombs were used in warfare. During this war, the city of Hiroshima was of considerable Military importance.[ CITATION Bir05 \l 1033 ] This city commanded the defense of the southern region of Japan. Majorly, it was a communication center and an assembly point for the troops. This made it an important point of the Second World War. Nagasaki on its part was by then the largest Sea port to the south of Japan. It was well industrialized including the industries for the manufacture of military equipment and many other war materials. This made it as well a target spot for the USA and aligned powers.[ CITATION Mit05 \l 1033 ]
Main Text
In the august 6 of 1945, Enola Gay an American bomer left left the little island of Tinian for the city of Hiroshima. In him was a gun type uranium bomb famously knows as the little boy. This is the cause opf the mass destruction in the city of Hiroshima. In this blast it is estimated that over 80000 died instantly as others up to date count their miseries. Three days did not pass when another American bomber left the same island of Tinian carrying another bomb named Fat man. Due to its economic importance he headed towards the city of Nagasaki. The plant of Mitsubishi was the target point in this bombing. The estimated number of deaths was 74000 on the spot as millions hitherto suffer the repercussions of the bombing[ CITATION Bir05 \l 1033 ].
The controversy surrounding the bombings is that, The United States Military thought that the only way that it was to make Japan surrender in the war was only by demonstrating its military power especially after the attacks on United States ships in the Pacific Ocean by Japanese Navy. It was believed that, there was no any other military way except the use of Invasion that could Make the Japanese give up. In the history of Japan this country had not been invaded before and as such even after the attack of Hiroshima they did not surrender till Nagasaki was bombed. Geographically, the invasion of Japanese mainland was expensive to the US military. They as such invaded the towns on the Sea of Japan. The topography of the series of Japanese islands coupled with the strong Japanese military, any amphibious assault might have taken to task the United States military[ CITATION Man04 \l 1033 ].
It is not very clear however that, an unconditional Japanese surrender was not possible, more so if the Soviet Union had come into the war before the bombing. Note that the Soviet Union (Russia) entered into this war on August 8 , 2 days after the bombings. Many suggest that, the Unites States President then, Harry Truman, feared the dominance of Asia by Russia in the aftermath of the war. Due to this reason he bombed Japan before the Soviet Union had a chance to get into the fray thus earning the right to put in place a peace settlement. Political scientists also suggest that, Trumann might also have wanted to scare his Russian counterpart, Stalin, with this new destructive ability of the United States[ CITATION The05 \l 1033 ].
Whether the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings was a wise military decision remains uncertain. The decision makers of the decision are long gone but the effects are still hitherto felt. The scourge of the radiation still linger to date, the sad memories of the casualties, the psychological impacts of knowing that even such a destructive force exists or and remain. This incident had far reaching effects on the Japanese and the surrounding. It had grave effects on the social cultural, physical (health), economic, and ecological or environmental dimensions of the Japanese. According to a Japanese Radio station, the blasts left over half of the inhabitants of the two cities dead. This was due to the radio active emissions from the blasts. The survivors of the blasts hitherto suffer from cancer, cataracts, blood disorders like leukemia and other related diseases[ CITATION The05 \l 1033 ]. The survivors’ relatives up to date are affected physically as many are still being born maimed as a result of these emissions. Survivors of the blast suffer emotionally for losing some of their limps and some of their relatives. Most of them have been left economically in distress after losing all they could term as property. The environmental effect of this is said to be far reaching as well. This is because over 90% of the buildings in those cities were destroyed by the blasts. The atomic bomb impacted more on the thinking of the Japanese government leaders. The fight- to- the-end-policy of the Japanese army was brought to a halt by these bombing. The bomb did not convince the government leaders to seek for peace rather the bombings speeded up the political maneuverings in the government. The fight- to- the-end-policy he worry of further bombings especially in Tokyo made them worried and as such decided to give up on their war policy of fight- to- the-end-policy. This saw the end of the Second World War.
According to a witness and a survivor, the temperatures of the city rose to about 10 million degrees immediately after the blast that led to the burning of many people and that the light emission were more bright that that of the sun which led to blinding of many.[ CITATION Bir05 \l 1033 ]
The American notion is that the use of such a weapon against Japan was a part solution of the disarmament treaty of the league of nations of 1918. However, in reality this was just but a recipe for the production of the weapons of mass destruction. The aftermath of the Second World War has witnessed a rise in the number nuclear weapons made[ CITATION Val07 \l 1033 ]. During the war, the US was known to be the only state which was in possession of the deadly nuclear weapons. However, of late many nations in the world are in possession of these weapons. This may include nations like the Great Britain, France, Russia, India and Pakistan which are declared. Other states such as Israel and the North Korea are suspected to be in possession of the nuclear weapons but are not declared[ CITATION The05 \l 1033 ]. This increased armament has posed a challenge to the world peace and security. This increased armament has led to the introduction of many disarmament policies like the Non- proliferation policies by the UN.[ CITATION Bir05 \l 1033 ]
The importance of the bombing of the Japanese cities has been felt since the attacks in 1945. These attacks shaped the world history during the nuclear arms race until 1991 and the cold war. The attacks marked the end of the world war and shaped the US policy and the international politics. The ending of this war by bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki opened the doors for the cold war. The advent of these weapons of mass destruction paved the way for the arms race between the USA and Russia formerly the USSR that lasted for almost four years. Although there are no nuclear weapons that have been detonated since then, other countries have obtained such weapons and jeopardized to use them[ CITATION Man04 \l 1033 ].
The war had many effects on the soldiers of both sides. A tenth of the American soldiers were hospitalized for illnesses connected to mental disturbance between the years 1942-1945. Many of the soldiers also manifested signs of psychiatric disturbances. Many soldiers died where Japan alone lost over 110000 of soldiers in the bombings.
Too many people died ion the incident, but, if the war persisted many could have died as compared to the number that died. The estimates of those who would have died are almost a million as compared to the 240 who died. There were multiples of actions top be taken rather than the military action, but the Japanese fighting style was self speaking. In that they “they would rather take a grenade strapped in their chest than be touched by an American”. At this time the Japanese were ruled by an emperor, emperor Bishido[ CITATION Bir05 \l 1033 ]. The honor code that was given to him barred the idea of giving up as doing so meant betraying ones emperor among many others.
This means that, though there were other ways to solve the problems like negotiations, would have been impossible hence the only way out was the use of military action. This means that dropping the bombs saved more lives than it took.
Who was the cause of the war between the U.s and the Japan? The answer to this gives us aclue on the belligerence of Japan they bombed an American naval base at the Pearl Harbor.
American soldiers were captured by the Japanese military and tortured to death. Some of the soldiers were put in the marches of death. While in this marches of death, they would be March for long periods of time and if one fell he was stabbed using bayonets until he stood or even he a friend soldier would be forced to bury him alive. It was such a physical and mental torture that needed to be stopped[ CITATION Mit05 \l 1033 ].
The captured U.S prisoners were not to be let free by the Japanese. In that way it was a debate on whether it was right to let the Americans suffer during the war. If the bombs were not dropped therefore these suffering could have continued and more likely moiré could have been captured.
The budget of the Second World War was the most high for the U.S. It is estimated to have cost $300bilion to wage this war and as such to keep the bells rolling would have meant that the U.s budget could be strained leading. Natural resources would have been depleted like metal and gasoline. The U.S. national debt is high now but imagines that the U.S continued with the war. Besides, the war had taken a very different course in that, the Japans military situation had deteriorated this means that the war was to shift base to the U.S soil. This would have left many American civilians dead.
The bombs in question were initially but for use against the Germany; however, they had left the war. The weapon is estimated to have cost £2,000,000,000 to the Americans. From their way of thinking, this was too much to waste if they failed to use the bomb[ CITATION The05 \l 1033 ]. Now that Japan was an enemy country the destination of the weapon was got.
Conclusion
Conclusively, in the horrible war there is no one who wanted to kill more than he had to bombing Hiroshima and Nagasaki saved more lives than it killed. Many are of the opinion that it was merciless, wrong and uncalled for but form a better scrutiny it was the only way left to end the war and as such it was justified. Besides, though life is not subject to economic quantification, the budget of this war if it had continued would be so high that hitherto the economic implications of the war could be felt in the whole world.
References
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Manhatt. A Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. New York: Kessinger Publishing, 2004.
Mitchel, G. A great Nuclear- Age Mystery solved. New York: Mitchel Greg publishers, 2005.
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The press in Hiroshima. Japanese press. 6 August 2005. 30 September 2010 <hppt:// www.editorandpublisher.com>.
Valerie, B. The Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Minnesota: The Creative Company, 2007.
