The Decision to Use the Atomic Bomb | Gar Alperovitz | Further Confirmation of Alperovitz'...

The Decision to Use the Atomic Bomb | Gar Alperovitz | Essential reading for every person.

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The Decision to Us...

	The Decision to Use the Atomic Bomb Gar Alperovitz Vintage, 1996 - 864 pages average customer review:based on 24 reviews view larger image
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Controversial in nature, this book demonstrates that the United States did not need to use the atomic bomb against Japan. Alperovitz criticizes one of the most hotly debated precursory events to the Cold War, an event that was largely responsible for the evolution of post-World War II American politics and culture.

Further Confirmation of Alperovitz' Thesis and Facts

Another very fine book that makes the same point is James Carroll's recent "House of War." James Carroll's father was the first director of the Defense Intelligence Agency as an Air Force LTG, giving James himself special insights into the very political decision to drop the A-bomb on the Japanese. In the words of Curtis LeMay who was very much involved in influencing and executing this action, "kill 'em, just kill 'em all," and "bomb them back to the stone age." Although these words were spoken by LeMay concerning WWII and Vietnam, respectively, they reveal a state of mind extant in the "House of War" (the Pentagon) and the president and his war-mongering advisors such as James Byrnes. As a resident of South Carolina, it is an embarassment to acknowledge Byrnes as a SC native. In fact, his statue stands in front of the courthouse in our small town.

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Essential reading for every person.

Upon reading this book it doesn't take long to recognize the following:

A) Eisenhower, MacArthur, and every high military figure believed the bomb was unnecessary because Japan was seekin a way to surrender with dignity.

B) [...] This book shows - through the statements and writings of ther actors themselves - who started the "million lives lost" lie", and why. Only extremist right-wing conservatives can read this work and still assert the bombings were necessary.

C) Truman dropped the bombs because he was far weaker than is commonly thought, and allowed the cranky old warhawk Byrnes to talk him into it.

This book raises issues about not only the bombings, but of political deception, militarist propaganda, and ugly patriotic nationalism. Everyone shoud read this book.

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A definitive account of what led to Hiroshima.

I deem Alperovitz's book best written on the nuclear bombing of Japan.

History of World War II-serious reader knows -is riddled with myths,controversies.For a long time events building up to nuclear bombing of Hiroshima,Nagasaki were shrouded in mystery.However this book has shed lot of light on the subject thanks to author's access to some confidential documents,files, memos now declassified under FOIA .Based on this author has argued that nuclear bombing was wholly unwarranted in effecting Japan's surrender.

Because Japan by July 1945-as expert opinion shows-was defeated.American land ,naval forces were few hundred miles away from home islands.Situation was desperate; Tokyo intiated diplomatic moves to end the war.With Emperor's blessings Foreign minister Shigemitsu Togo tried to find out through Japanese ambassador in Moscow wheather Russia was willing to help Japan bring about peace.Thanks to intelligence derived from Purple decrypts Americans knew Japan's plight.However they were few stumbling blocks.One was Tokyo's desire to preserve Emperor.

If President Truman had clarified the proposition that by unconditional surrender he meant Japanese armed forces and not the royalty, Tokyo would have capitulated.Such course of action apart from ensuring Japan's surrender would have stopped Soviet entry into Far Eastern war on its tracks.This makes ridiculous official claim that nuclear bombing was essential to hasten Japan's surrender.

Paradoxically, [after nuclear bombing ]US allowed Japanese to retain their emperor.If only President Truman guranteed the safety ,sanctity of the Emperor while issuing Potsdam declaration this terrible human tragedy could have been averted.Unfortunately coming under the baneful influence of his secretay of state Byrnes he botched it.

Concomitantly it also implies despite nuclear bombing Tokyo would have continued to resist to the bitter end if Americans were to dissolve the Imperial House.So the theory that atomic bombing precipitated japan's surrender is a myth.Rather it had more to do with American tussle with Soviet Union for the control of postwar Eastern Europe.By bombing Japan US wanted to send Moscow a strong lesson.

Final section of the book makes a shocking reading.Here author has shown why American public blindly endorsed official version of events.Because during immediate post war years Government was engaged in a massive disinformation campaign.Facts which were not in consonance with official view were either distorted,fudged or suppressed .Striking demonstration of phenomena how facts of history can be molded to serve preconceived aims and objectives of ruling elites.Perhaps President wanted to cover up the fact that he commited dastardly crime that would put even Mongols to shame.

This book is lavishly documented;scrupulously researched.Hence very thick and voluminous.But on the negative side exceedingly
verbose replete with euphemisms.One requires abundant free time
and exceptional interest to finish reading it.so I don't recommend it for casual readers.

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A great read, ignore the nay-sayers!

Far more gripping than the average history text. Very thoroughly researched and compellingly argued. Having just recently read the book, and having it fresh in mind, I'd like to state my reaction to the one-star reviewers below - I can only surmise that they have either:

1. Not actually read the book

or

2. Read it, while failing to absorb about 90% of it.

I say this because every point that the book allegedly "ignores" or "overlooks" is in fact addressed at length and in great detail therein. The critics below totally distort the arguments actually made in the book. And this straw-man about the Okinawa Battle two months prior..c'mon folks. Japan inflicted heavy losses because they were using their fighter planes as suicide-weapons. Not exactly a strategy bound to endure for very long, is it?

This is a valuable contribution to world history. Read it.

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

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