The completion of the atomic bomb is not enough to justify the use of it. However, it is the circumstance and context of America’s foreign policy that justify the USA’s use of nuclear warfare. The attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 was a significant threat to the United States, causing over 2,300 US casualties. It is undeniable that the surprise attack was an instant threat to their considered global dominance, domestic stability and entrenched ideology and nationalism. Pearl Harbor exacerbated the threat of the Axis; leading the USA to adopt an even stricter defensive realist foreign policy. The policy of Containment now defined America’s foreign relations, dictating action and relationships. Containment ensured that America’s main interest was America.
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The Nuclear Strategy and National Style concluded that ‘US conduct in WWII, had the virtue of pursuing the unambiguous, attainable, popular and necessary goal of victory’. The goal of war for the USA was total victory, and this outweighed traditional attitude of anti-bombing. It is argued by Nitze that ‘Japan would have surrendered even if the atomic bombs had not been dropped.’ However, as Bernstein agrees, the evidence used did not correlate with the USSBS survey and the statement is counterfactual and untrue. The atomic bomb, as a secretive weapon, caused the Japanese to surrender just on ‘shock value’ alone. As Truman summarized; ‘we shall completely destroy Japan's power to make war.’ Therefore, dropping the atomic bomb is justified when considering the USA’s traditional realist policy of total victory. Utilizing the bomb proved to be the best decision for an America striving for
The Nuclear Strategy and National Style concluded that ‘US conduct in WWII, had the virtue of pursuing the unambiguous, attainable, popular and necessary goal of victory’. The goal of war for the USA was total victory, and this outweighed traditional attitude of anti-bombing. It is argued by Nitze that ‘Japan would have surrendered even if the atomic bombs had not been dropped.’ However, as Bernstein agrees, the evidence used did not correlate with the USSBS survey and the statement is counterfactual and untrue. The atomic bomb, as a secretive weapon, caused the Japanese to surrender just on ‘shock value’ alone. As Truman summarized; ‘we shall completely destroy Japan's power to make war.’ Therefore, dropping the atomic bomb is justified when considering the USA’s traditional realist policy of total victory. Utilizing the bomb proved to be the best decision for an America striving for