Renovations continue through Saturday. Then we take a week off from laying new floor to enjoy Christmas and a visit from our 7 year old grandson. Then on to flooring my new Studio! Whoo hoo!
We have a dear friend who served as an art and music teacher on Tinian. She told us of tanks and other US trash littering and rusting in the otherwise pristine ocean waters around the island. I was so sad to see we are going to go back there and do more damage. Could we at least clean up the rustbuckets we left there last time?
Also, it chills the soul a little to think of us going back to where we launched the Enola Gay that killed so many in Japan. Is humanity slipping a cog?
I have read the revised (after the invasion of Okinawa) estimate of deaths, both civilian and military on both sides, to be expected from the invasion of the Japanese home islands. It was far beyond sobering. And don't forget the horror of the firebombing raids on Tokyo. As was their responsibility, the US Department of Defense was planning how to move, re-equip and retrain entire armies from Europe to the Pacific theater; they were going to require pretty much all the US railway rolling stock and huge numbers of transport ships. They built a number of hospitals up and down the US West Coast and in Hawaii to treat the wounded who could survive transportation that far. I think most, or maybe all, of those hospitals were turned over to the Veterans Administration after the war. -----Alan
P.S.: The Japanese Emperor, like the last Shogun, was supposedly in charge, but actually was not--- until the very end, when he made the decision to end the war. And there was a conspiracy of militarists who did their best to prevent the broadcast of the Emperor's address to the nation. They tried to find the recording and confiscate it, but were foiled because they were not familiar with the Imperial palace (which was very complicated), and did not know that there were duplicate copies in case of interference with the broadcast. They also underestimated the loyalty and determination of the Imperial Household.
I remember reading that Saburo Sakai, Japan's leading WWII fighter ace, said that he completely understood and accepted the American atom bombings; if he had been ordered to bomb (if I remember correctly) Seattle and San Francisco to end the war, he would have done so without hesitation. BTW, after the bombing of Hiroshima Japanese physicists figured out that it was uranium-235 bomb. Knowing the abundance of U-235 in natural uranium and the amount of uranium ore available in the US and Canada, they correctly estimated that the US could make only one such bomb. They didn't know about plutonium because it wasn't discovered until 1940, and was kept secret until after the war. -----Alan
The question is whether demonstrating the bomb somewhere would have ended the war without civilian casualties. Maybe, maybe not. I think it was wroth a try. If it didn't work. we had a second bomb. You make an argument for needing to drop the Nagsaki bomb. I think we shold have at least waited until we knew whether the Hiroshima bomb had had the desired effect.
It was suggested that a demonstration bomb be dropped on an uninhabited island first. That was rejected because it might convey the impression that the US would not actually use it. We did wait to see if the first bomb had the desired political effect; it did not. ----Alan
Not directly relevant to what the article is saying, but I am reminded of the "Warren court" (anybody else remember that?). The Warren court was widely criticized for its "judicial activism." This court has also been very activist.
Got a wonderful knew robe, blue extra fluffy fleece with playful polar bears--the fleece makes my body happy, bears, my heart happy. Pretty good deal all around.
Cooter's going to deliver all my wrapped gifts, and has delivered his to me, a new computer, Win 10. Harry gave me a replacement when Green Lantern looked to be dying three years ago. Well he didn't, the new one has, so. . . . If you told me I was a lucky lady, I would have to agree!
Renovations continue through Saturday. Then we take a week off from laying new floor to enjoy Christmas and a visit from our 7 year old grandson. Then on to flooring my new Studio! Whoo hoo!
ReplyDeleteUS Air Force to reclaim Pacific airfield that launched atomic bombings as it looks to counter China
ReplyDeleteWe have a dear friend who served as an art and music teacher on Tinian. She told us of tanks and other US trash littering and rusting in the otherwise pristine ocean waters around the island. I was so sad to see we are going to go back there and do more damage. Could we at least clean up the rustbuckets we left there last time?
Also, it chills the soul a little to think of us going back to where we launched the Enola Gay that killed so many in Japan. Is humanity slipping a cog?
DeleteI have read the revised (after the invasion of Okinawa) estimate of deaths, both civilian and military on both sides, to be expected from the invasion of the Japanese home islands. It was far beyond sobering. And don't forget the horror of the firebombing raids on Tokyo. As was their responsibility, the US Department of Defense was planning how to move, re-equip and retrain entire armies from Europe to the Pacific theater; they were going to require pretty much all the US railway rolling stock and huge numbers of transport ships. They built a number of hospitals up and down the US West Coast and in Hawaii to treat the wounded who could survive transportation that far. I think most, or maybe all, of those hospitals were turned over to the Veterans Administration after the war.
Delete-----Alan
P.S.: The Japanese Emperor, like the last Shogun, was supposedly in charge, but actually was not--- until the very end, when he made the decision to end the war. And there was a conspiracy of militarists who did their best to prevent the broadcast of the Emperor's address to the nation. They tried to find the recording and confiscate it, but were foiled because they were not familiar with the Imperial palace (which was very complicated), and did not know that there were duplicate copies in case of interference with the broadcast. They also underestimated the loyalty and determination of the Imperial Household.
DeleteI remember reading that Saburo Sakai, Japan's leading WWII fighter ace, said that he completely understood and accepted the American atom bombings; if he had been ordered to bomb (if I remember correctly) Seattle and San Francisco to end the war, he would have done so without hesitation. BTW, after the bombing of Hiroshima Japanese physicists figured out that it was uranium-235 bomb. Knowing the abundance of U-235 in natural uranium and the amount of uranium ore available in the US and Canada, they correctly estimated that the US could make only one such bomb. They didn't know about plutonium because it wasn't discovered until 1940, and was kept secret until after the war.
Delete-----Alan
Another inadvertent duplicate post. Oh, well.
Delete----Alan
The question is whether demonstrating the bomb somewhere would have ended the war without civilian casualties. Maybe, maybe not. I think it was wroth a try. If it didn't work. we had a second bomb.
DeleteYou make an argument for needing to drop the Nagsaki bomb. I think we shold have at least waited until we knew whether the Hiroshima bomb had had the desired effect.
It was suggested that a demonstration bomb be dropped on an uninhabited island first. That was rejected because it might convey the impression that the US would not actually use it. We did wait to see if the first bomb had the desired political effect; it did not.
Delete----Alan
Pretty good news. Not perfect, but good fersure.
ReplyDeletehttps://digbysblog.net/2023/12/21/polls-polls-polls-2/
puddle~~
Clickified [Click]
Delete——Alan
Yep; rational. I hope that TFG gets to be the second to campaign for the presidency from his prison cell.
Delete-----Alan
Foggier this morning than it has been lately; breakfast continues apace. Now to peruse the gnus.
ReplyDelete----Alan
You know how to feel *really* old? Have your kid talk about *his* kid who is training on double engine planes. . . .
ReplyDeletepuddle~~
I reckon that would do it, all right.
Delete----Alan
Alas! I will never have that chance.
DeleteNor I, Bill.
DeleteU.S. and Europe Eye Russian Assets [Click] I suppose that should be less risky than issuing consols.
ReplyDeleteBiden signs an executive order aimed at financial facilitators of the Russian defense industry [Click] One more twist of the screw.
—Alan
Less politically risky, that is.
Delete-----Alan
Trump’s Rocky Relationship With Supreme Court [Click]
ReplyDeleteThe Supreme Court Did This to Itself [Click]
—Alan
Not directly relevant to what the article is saying, but I am reminded of the "Warren court" (anybody else remember that?). The Warren court was widely criticized for its "judicial activism." This court has also been very activist.
DeleteAh, but the Warren court was pinko leftist. :P
DeleteGot a wonderful knew robe, blue extra fluffy fleece with playful polar bears--the fleece makes my body happy, bears, my heart happy. Pretty good deal all around.
ReplyDeleteCooter's going to deliver all my wrapped gifts, and has delivered his to me, a new computer, Win 10. Harry gave me a replacement when Green Lantern looked to be dying three years ago. Well he didn't, the new one has, so. . . . If you told me I was a lucky lady, I would have to agree!
puddle~~
Sounds good!
Delete----Alan
Tomorrow will be TWO SECONDS longer. Once again, the light is returning!
ReplyDeletepuddle~~
And not a moment too soon!
Delete[Video:] Brilliant New York AG Trapped Trump’s Money and Now He’s Stuck [Click]
ReplyDeleteThis is [in my warped opinion] just as amusing as I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas [Click] or Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer [Click]
——Alan