Was the United States right to drop atomic bombs so quickly on Hiroshima and Nagasaki?

On Monday, August 6, 1945, at 8:15 a.m., an atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima by an American B-29 bomber, the Enola Gay, flown by Paul Tibbets,directly killing an estimated 80,000 people. By the end of the year, injury and radiation brought total casualties to 90,000–140,000. The population before the bombing was around 340,000 to 350,000. Approximately 69% of the city's buildings were completely destroyed, and another 7% severely damaged.
 
Should the United States have done this?

 

Absolutely. The sooner the war ended, the more lives were saved in the long run. Esp considering an invasion of the home islands was projected cost many more times the lives of those killed in the two bombings.

Well I agree.  More American lives especially.  We didn't want this war, tried to stay out of it but I've heard that some want us to apologize for dropping those bombs.

Sir Pun wrote:Absolutely. The sooner the war ended, the more lives were saved in the long run. Esp considering an invasion of the home islands was projected cost many more times the lives of those killed in the two bombings.

C'mon Punny, you know the Japanese were already discussing peace. You also know the firebombings did more damage. You also know that the bombs were dropped not for the Japs, but for the Soviets. Without the show of force, there was no way we could have stopped the Soviet machine from continuing its roll through mainland Europe like Stalin wanted. That is the main reason why the Cold War started immediately after WW2 ended. It is only US ego that let's us believe that we won the war in Europe. We helped, but the Soviets did the heavy lifting. They were too numerous and too battle hardened.....and their equipment was fantastic at that time. Even better than the vaunted Tiger and Panther. Our air advantage against the Axis wouldn't have held against the Solviets and the artillery they had was massive. In conventional war, at the time, we did not stand a chance.

I know all that, yetthe firebombings hadnt hadnt forced copitulation. And yes it wS very important to end the war quickly as the ruskies began moving on manchuria. Sure, it was shock and awe, but to end the most heinous war in history.

Andd the japs were asking for terms, we sed no terms (except that the emperor was immune from prosecution and allowed to remain in place), and the genrals wanted to fight on to the end