Obama still undecided about Hiroshima visit

The idea of an apology by any sitting president for Truman's use of nuclear weapons would be an anathema. For those Americans who support the idea, I suggest they study the history of the moment. Truman agonized over the possibility that a million or more of our soldiers might be killed in an invasion of mainland Japan. Add to that the intransigence of the Japanese military to cease hostilities when they had clearly lost the war and a grim picture emerges. Truman made the best decision under the circumstances and a presidential apology would be an egregious insult to those who served.

Obama will probably go. Considering how he went to Cuba, and tries to convey himself as an open-minded guy, and considering this is his last term, with nothing to lose, he will go there to show the world that he had the balls.

I think it will be a mistake.

Not for going itself. That would be an OK act, but for appeasing the home team (the hawkish, righ-wing, ossan in power). Knowing what I do about Japanese reasoning, a visit would make them feel somehow absolved of wrongdoings during their war campaign, and they would use this on the gullible public at home.

He will. With the family.

The president of the United States should not go just to strengthen the bilateral relationship between America and Japan but to remind all mankind and the world of the terrible cost and tragedy associated with the use of nuclear weapons. He should also open a door to historical reconciliation in Northeast Asia where there is uncompleted and unfinish business.

He should go, as a human being, to see what insane and terrible things were done.

If he wants every documentary and anything else concerning the war that comes on TV in Japan in the future to end with footage of his visit to Hiroshima, hinting at some kind of atonement, then he should go. Otherwise not.

CrazyJoeMAY. 04, 2016 - 07:15AM JST The idea of an apology by any sitting president for Truman's use of nuclear weapons would be an anathema.

Good thing this article is nothing to do with an apology and the Japanese government have said several times that they aren't seeking one. That fact has been reported twice on this very website, at least.

FubenMAY. 04, 2016 - 07:54AM JST Not for going itself. That would be an OK act, but for appeasing the home team (the hawkish, righ-wing, ossan in power). Knowing what I do about Japanese reasoning...

I'm skeptical that there is a single kind of "Japanese reasoning", but I'm even more skeptical that any meaningful discussion can be had when one side is conflating the hibakusha and peace movement in Hiroshima with the Nippon Kaigi. They are two groups with nearly polar opposite politics, ideologies, and life experiences, but we just decide they're all on the same team because they're Japanese?

Let me say that by this point in time a US President SHOULD be able to go to Hiroshima/Nagasaki, but they have NOT

Why is that...........simple Japan hasn't even remotely come to grips with its history now for 7+ decades & counting THAT is why no US President has gone & also why the current Emperor doesn't go to yasukuni, same principles basically.

As I said before in another thread Obama should be visiting as the 8-10th President to do SO! But there hasn't been a President that has made the trip & there are reasons why, & they STILL EXIST!!

Obama should be able to go buy cant/shouldn't because Japan hasn't got its act together THATS on Japan!

Again I wish Obama could go but he shouldn't because of Japans poor record wrt to WWII history, to go now is a mistake, he would play right into the right wingers of Japan & the visit would get all twisted up.

I don't agree with you, katsu78. Hibakusha and Nippon Kaigi views of Japanese history both have one very important thought in common; that they were victims in World War ll. The ideology of Jaoan-as-victim can be seen widely and almost every day in many spheres. And victims are, almost by definition, innocent. They both also therefore have an interest in presenting nuclear weapons as qualitatively more evil than any other weapons. Whatever we may consider about the undeserved suffering of Hiroshima and the hibakusha the fact remains that recently they have become useful to the rightists' cause, while only a few decades ago people who were victims of the A-bombs were somewhat forgotten or shunned.

Truman made the best decision under the circumstances and a presidential apology would be an egregious insult to those who served.

Don't buy it. It was the Russian entry to the Pacific War that brought Japan to their knees. Having said that, any visit by Obama will be politicised by the right in Japan. For that reason he should wait until January 21st next year before visiting.

@Glen is right, Japanese feared the Russian entry. As for the Obama- Hiroshima- show- no show thing, it's a crisis that Japan hasn't let go to waste. They are milking it for all it's worth. I KNOW they are still evil.

Both wrong. Stalin hesitatingly agreed to join the fight Japan only after three months after the defeat of Germany, which the date of was not known.

The Soviets had no amphibious or airlift capability to invade Japan. Stalin requested all support from the Allies. Hence Project Hula.

The IJA knew there was no significant invasion force held by the Soviets at that time, so, as US records show, almost all Japanese depoyments were to Kyushu to fight the expected invasion forces of the US and allies. None of Japan's actions show any fear of this "Russian" threat.

Anyway, there's a tradition of Presidents not visiting. Just as the J-politicians have their traditions.

After the Ribbentrop - Molotov pact between Germany and Russia, then the invasion ( operation Barbarossa) by Germany, Stalin couldn't believe the betrayal and thus considered Hitler his mortal nemesis, to be utterly destroyed, hence his postponing entry to the far east front. Japan couldn't countenance the thought of facing the Russians were that to happen. Obama should not acquiace.

Cogito Ergo SumMAY. 04, 2016 - 06:47PM JST I KNOW they are still evil.

Who exactly are "they"?

Russia agreed to declare war on Japan within a few months after Germany's surrender. Interesting link http://foreignpolicy.com/2013/05/30/the-bomb-didnt-beat-japan-stalin-did/

Truman may indeed have agonised about using the bomb. But the fact remains that Japan surrendered because of the Soviets, not the US. Russia managed to take over the northern territories. Invading Hokkaido would've been easy enough. Obama should stay away.

At that time sinc when Japan won JapanRussiaWar(NichiRo sensor) Japan was brain washed. Any war, Japan would win. When Hiroshima was to be bombed, a Japanese American Tokyo Rose announced on NHK about it. Militant fascist Govttried to bide from Emperor, but Emperor learned from botanists who could visit emperor for botany research. Then Nagasaki. People were ordered to kill ourselves by government. So emperor sent his aides to Ministry of Imperialhousehold,it arranged NHK to televise what he want to say. If the plan was leaked they would be killed but they took a chance Aug 15 1945 people found we lost war. So A bomb saved Japan Do you know Japanese never called Truman as President? We just call Truman.

Pres Obama may come. Just gov't has to make sure security is ok. They must be checking history of crime in Japan..no gunfight but ... you guys know Obama is safe from skirt photo snoopers. So FBI and Secret sea ice will ok.

I think he should go, he has a lot of after-the-fact work to do to earn that Nobel Prize.

He should go, as a human being, to see what insane and terrible things were done.

If you put it in that context, does that mean Japan will also apologize for the attacks on Pearl Harbor?

At first, I thought it would be a good idea go to Hiroshima because Obama seems to be a level headed global leader. However, today after Donald Trump became the Republican nominee for President, perhaps Obama should not go. It'll only give Republicans fodder for 'siding with the enemy' or 'coddling a selfish Japan.' Remember, Bobby Knight said the bombing of Hiroshima was justified (although getting the year wrong), and all that right wing rhetoric will follow.

But the fact remains that Japan surrendered because of the Soviets

Please enlighten us with this "fact".

john kerry made a good statement, i was deeply moved when i visited hiroshima, there was no end to sadness and lingered on my mind for a period of time. hopefully by visiting there one will actually feel the horrible effect of atomic bomb and eliminate for future use.

@Sabrage. Take a look at the link I provided and enlightenment will follow

I think he will go at the end and I dont think visiting the Hiroshima museum has anything to loss face for him. He has been to Cuba already so where on earth he cant be there except Pyongyang ! For Japan is a big diplomatic victory because her WW2 Self Victimhoods will be certified by a US president and she can lectures the world with a higher moral principles of peace. Good try!

@Sabrage"Please enlighten us with this "fact".

Every educated person know it except some US folks. You see, in two weeks Soviets completely defeated main Japanese forces in northern China and Kuril islands. Japan turned to be surrounded by allies from all directions. Aand all supply lines from Japanese colonies to mainland were cut. So there weren't any strategical or tactical reasons to bomb cities filled by civilians. Solders fight soldiers while cowards prefer to "fight" defenceless women and children.

They purposely left those two cities untouched so they could "test" the bombs on them.

It is safe bet he will go. It fits right in with his nuclear disarmament and US bashing agenda. Bank on it!

Nagasaki was not planned. Supposed to be Kokura but some kind of weather changed to Nagasaki. There are people who were in their mothers' embryo and was born later and after they were born, their mother died They quietly live in Atomic bomb hospital. Atomic bomb orphan and forgotten. Just ambbas Kennedy visited.

There should be no apology, the act was absolutely justifiable under conditions of war and was legal at the time; the best thing to do is acknowledge the devastation caused by the bomb and strive to avoid a future occurence, I believe that's the significance that the Japanese are trying to evince - they do not need an apology, just acknowledgement.