Revisionism is easy… but making harsh, horrid, homicidal decisions, in real life and real time, is not as easy as most people think (check out the ever-whiter hair of every U.S. president). The demands never cease — often enough, the nights are longer, more dangerous, stressful than the days.
The other day I heard a young reporter on NPR say (in words written by some bright young producer/writer, slightly older than she), “…the U.S dropped the atomic bomb on Japan at the end of the war.”” Let me assure every reader of the truth: It certainly did not appear the war was over. Our experience with the enemy was key, they’d rather die losing, ’til their entire nation was consumed. (They were, bye the bye, well on the way. Some 250,000 Tokyo residents were consumed in one fire-bomb raid by USAF B-29s. There were many such raids. Near the end they were ‘around the clock.’)
Every day, Americans were dying. At Okinawa, the Navy lost 300+ ships, with as many more damaged, to suicide air attack. Sure, they’d beaten hell out the Japanese — but don’t ever get the idea it was easy. Democracies don’t, as a rule, like high casualties. And people make waves when they’re discontented.
Yes, Harry Truman, a chef who stayed in the kitchen (no matter how hot), dropped the bomb (can you believe results at Hiroshima had no effect on the Emperor Hirohito, or on his heavily militarized cabinet), dropped another a few days later. The reasons, political and military, consisted of astoundingly high projections regarding likely U.S. casualties invading the enemy ‘Home’ islands. They were based (as much as such things can be based) on recent experience. The lowest numbers I’ve seen were half-a-million dead or badly injured. The highest tops one million.
Truth is, the Japanese made a terrible mistake, but very shortly (six months), began payment of a very high toll. Her Merchant fleet went first. The decline was slightly delayed by rotten American torpedoes. Four of six Japanese carriers in the Pearl Harbor attack were destroyed six months later at Midway Island. Hard fighting followed, three and one-half years worth. In the end, casualties at Iwo-Jima and Okinawa much in mind, Truman tired of their attitude. He was not interested in losing more U.S. soldiers, sailors, and airmen. He ended a lot of hell. At war’s end, Hirohito’s capitol, like Hitler’s, was a perfect moonscape.
But the end of hell, as ever, was no where in view. RIP HST (wish you were here). After the second bomb exploded at Nagasaki, the Emperor quickly changed his mind regarding possibility of surrender. Some Japanese generals, admirals, cabinet officials plotted to stop his surrender broadcast to Japan. They failed. The Japanese came through the ordeal sadder, but much, much wiser; a democracy (warts and all).
Nowadays, they’re just as scatter-brained, device-addled as all the other know-nothings, and do nothings. They’ve proven, over years since, very good partners and allies. (As have the Germans, despite continued rumbles from the right).
“Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee”
Jeez, oh, Pete! He was four years younger than me (and at a younger age, much wiser). A very courageous and intelligent man (and athlete) who carried a horrible weight for many, many years. At the end, his smile was yet such a one as to warm a body’s soul.
He was Light/Heavyweight Olympic boxing champion in 1960; world Heavyweight professional champ in ’64. He fought professionally 61 times, won 56, 37 of them by knock-outs. At his best (which was his usual), he was unbeatable. At his worst, as he seemed against Leon Spinks, or in his last fight against Canadian Trevor Berbick, in December, ’81.
America lost a man in Muhammad Ali who loved the place, despite our many warts. Tough and gentle, to the very end. He made me a lot of money, as well, sweeter for the racist pigs from whom I took it. One hell of a person, man and athlete!
Apology offered (don’t care if it’s accepted)
South Carolina U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham is a man who’s irritated me for years. Whining southern tang, a would-be military ‘expert’, goes along with most of the racist merde that passes for politics in that hotbed of pro-slavers, and rebellion.
But of all the Republicans who swore they’d never, under any circumstances, never support Donald Trump, Graham is the only one I can see with no egg on his shirt, the only one not blinded by the hair. If he lived here, I’d say it to his face, “Senator Graham, good on you, good for you, and I’ll lay off you (unless you choose run again for president). In that case, you’d have to spend some time with soldiers who serve in the field, learn what they could tell you, rather than with the army’s D.C. Military District legalistas.
The President is a traveling man
‘Twas good to see the President in both Vietnam and in Japan. He may have made headway in his desire to obtain use of our (VN War era) old naval facilities at Cam Ranh Bay. Now that would put a spike in China’s dreams. In Japan, most people seemed glad to have him there — appreciative.
Well, it was a hell of a thing to have to do to people, let’s all get together and hope such an act never again becomes necessary. Japan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan – everyone with legitimate interests in the South China Sea, is nervous about China. They’re treating the other coastal Asian states in the same way (military scare tactics) Russians are treating their near-neighbors in the Norse countries, the Balkans, and the Black and Red Sea areas.
Whatever else they try to tell ya, the Russians and Chinese are highly unreliable – ya can’t believe them at all. Untrustworthy to the un-most degree.
