Should the US have dropped the atomic bomb on Japan?

As a weapon of mass destruction, the nuclear bomb has been widely feared. It has only been used twice in the course of warfare: Two atomic bombs were dropped by the United States at the end of World War II in Japanese cities Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The bombings took away the lives of 200,000 citizens of Japan. One might think it was senseless civilian murder for the US to target Japan with atomic bombs, but compared to the death toll of World War II which was estimated from 62 million to 78 million, it was a good choice to make when so many other lives were saved and most importantly, the war was stopped.

The atomic bomb brought the war to a close. Although the war would have ended sooner or later, ending it earlier is always a better choice. Who knows how many more deaths would have been incurred? How many more buildings destroyed? How much more damage caused between the relationships of the countries? Furthermore, as we recall the strong spirit of the Japanese back in those times tell us that the Japanese will never surrender so easily, unless extreme measures were taken. To reinforce this, 67 cities have already been bombed - The ultimatum has to be used.

Then again, the US cannot be entirely blamed for this bombing. This is the first time any country is using the atomic bomb as a weapon, and hence the US were also not very clear about the effects of the atomic bomb. Even if it was a little too extreme, it brought an end to the massive World War II.

However, the US have no considered that the atomic bombs are dropped on the innocents that did not even participate in the war. What rights to they have to destroy the lives of the innocent, and destroy the lives of generations after due to the harmful radiation from the bomb? 145,000 people died on the impact of the bomb, and tens of thousands died later on due to the hazardous radiation leading to irreversible health problems. Is this death toll the true price to pay to end the war? The Japanese economy were already collapsing - The US should have known this earlier and might not even have resorted to the ultimatum of the atomic bomb. With the notion in mind that the war was going to end sooner or later, many lives might actually be saved!

It is a constant debate - But sends out a message to all countries: Never ever go to war so easily again... You might find yourself isolated, you might find yourself the target of an atomic bomb.