On Wed, 23 Jul 2008 at 12:36:15, Alex W.  wrote in 
uk.legal :
>>
>> All the previous battles against the Japanese saw them fighting to the
>> last man, and civilians killing themselves because of false propaganda
>> about US mistreatment.
>>
>> Given the above, there is no reason to think the same wouldn't have happen
>> during a land invasion of Japan - the casualties would probably have been
>> in the millions!
>
>Probably, possibly, maybe.

Of course - that is the nature of speculation.

However, the evidence they were willing to fight on regardless is 
compelling.

>The sad fact remains that civilians were intentionally targeted.  Not even
>civilians working in military installations or engaged in the production of
>war supplies but civilians at home.  Whatever the justification, that is
>plain wrong.

Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges

Rot-13 : Va pnfr lbh ner jbaqrevat, V tbg gung sebz na FG-QF9 rcvfbqr.
>
>It also was plain dead lucky.  If the Japanese hadn't folded after the first
>two bombs, the American bluff would have been called.  There was no third
>nuke.

Not at that point, no - but more were on the production line, and it's a 
bluff I don't think even a World Poker Champion would dare call!

In any case, there was the additional factor of the Russian attack into 
Manchuria, just days after.
-- 
Paul Hyett, Cheltenham