Will Iran Make The Japan Mistake?

Iran remains defiant, refusing a ceasefire offer, and I am reminded of Japan, just before the end of World War II.

No, Trump isn’t going to order an atomic bomb be dropped on Tehran. At least, I don’t think he will. But, I do expect him to follow through on promises to destroy Iran’s infrastructure, likely killing citizens in the process if Iran doesn’t meet his deadline to re-open the Strait of Hormuz to shipping traffic.

Back when schools in this country taught history, we learned of things such as the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.

There were few bleeding hearts among the populace when I was in elementary school, or junior high, but since then I have seen the usual suspects berate the United States for using its superior weaponry to force Japan to drop the belligerent posturing and accept the reality of defeat.

These critics don’t buy the assertion of President Harry S. Truman that using the bomb actually saved lives on both sides, including those of American soldiers who would have been lost had the United States been forced to invade mainland Japan and conquer it.

They also chose to ignore the warnings — many of them – sent by the Americans to the Japanese. President Truman, a Democrat sounding a lot like President Trump of current days, told the Japanese in what has come to be known as the Potsdam Declaration to surrender unconditionally or face “prompt and utter destruction.” This was July 1945.

Emperor Hirohito, like current Iranian leadership, didn’t take the threat seriously. He did after atomic bombs obliterated two of his cities in August 1945.

The United States warnings did not stop with the Potsdam Declaration. Leaflets were reported to have been dropped on numerous Japan cities, including Hiroshima and Nagasaki, before the blasts, warning residents to evacuate cities that were facing destruction.

Quibblers note the leaflets didn’t specify Hiroshima or Nagasaki and didn’t include other details. This reminds me of the current microphone jockeys who delight in asking Trump to share battle plan specifics with them, in advance. This idiocy amuses Trump. I’m not sure Truman was ever asked such insipid questions. If he had been, I suspect his response might have been strident.

The leaflets dropped in Japan also suggested citizens rise up to oust war-mongering leadership.

Suddenly, 2026 sounds a lot like 1945.

And, as an ironic side note, both Presidents’ last names begin T-R-U-M. Interesting.