×

Obama shouldn’t apologize for Hiroshima

President Barack Obama’s aides insist his planned visit to Hiroshima, Japan, will not include a U.S. apology for dropping an atomic bomb on that city in 1945. Good. Americans have nothing for which to apologize.

Obama will become the first sitting president to visit Hiroshima later this month. Deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes said his purpose will be to “spotlight the toll of war” and discuss a non-nuclear future for the world.

Still, the president’s visit will be taken by some as an indication Obama feels apologetic for the bombing. Every word and gesture he makes while in Hiroshima will be scrutinized by those looking for that.

No one knows with certainty how many people died as a result of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. Estimates range from 66,000 to 120,000 in the former city and 39,000 to 80,000 in the latter.

Almost undoubtedly, Japan would have continued to fight had the bombs not been dropped. World War II would have continued, at great cost in lives. A U.S. invasion of Japan probably would have killed more people than the bombings.

Compare the death toll exacted by Japanese troops in 1937, after they captured Nanking, China. They massacred as many as 300,000 Chinese civilians.

Use of the atomic bombs was a horrific event, of course. But it saved lives – and because of that, no apology is appropriate.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today