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What is unacceptable is the revisionism that we are exposed to today - the A bombs on Japan being the perfect example. Nobody talks about the Dresden-scale fire raid on cities like Tokyo with immediate casualties on the scale of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The focus is on the "super weapon". Was it evil of the USA to deploy thus weapon twice ...? In my books it saved a vast number of lives and was humane compared to taking homeland Japan - a meter at a time.
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What is unacceptable is the revisionism that we are exposed to today - the A bombs on Japan being the perfect example. Nobody talks about the Dresden-scale fire raid on cities like Tokyo with immediate casualties on the scale of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The focus is on the "super weapon". Was it evil of the USA to deploy thus weapon twice ...? In my books it saved a vast number of lives and was humane compared to taking homeland Japan - a meter at a time.
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Very touching and progress.
MM
Having said all that, the bombing offensives were necessary for victory
I disagree. Allies would have won anyway. Especially RAF bomber command could have been used much more effectively, like the Peenemunde/Dams raid etc. raid showed. Harris was just fixated on bombing towns.
What is RAF had directed its efforts on the ball bearing industry in late 1943, (same time as 8th AF) ?
Shorter war, I think.
What if RAF bomber command had concentraded its efforts on the oil industry, like 8th AF in spring 1944). ?
Shorter war, I think.
Harris' nickname "Butcher" was earned by not only by killing killing Germans, but also by sacrificing the British bomber crews.
What if RAF bomber command had concentraded its efforts on the oil industry, like 8th AF in spring 1944). ?
I agree the fact is that Harris had to ordered to coordinate with the 8TH AF in attacking oil industry and he did so very reluctantlyI disagree. Allies would have won anyway. Especially RAF bomber command could have been used much more effectively, like the Peenemunde/Dams raid etc. raid showed. Harris was just fixated on bombing towns.
What is RAF had directed its efforts on the ball bearing industry in late 1943, (same time as 8th AF) ?
Shorter war, I think.
What if RAF bomber command had concentraded its efforts on the oil industry, like 8th AF in spring 1944). ?
Shorter war, I think.
Harris' nickname "Butcher" was earned not only by killing killing Germans, but also by sacrificing the British bomber crews.
If the bombing of civilian targets is justified as a "means to an end", then why are we working so hard (today) to eliminate civilian casualties with "pin-point precision bombing"? And...we no longer target civilian establishments residence.
I say eye for an eye...
Hitler and Goering should have thought about that first.
The only problem I have with this mindset is that we are allowing psychopaths to set the rules of morality that we follow...
Once the Totalitarian State sets the parameters, the Democracies will follow.
One of Hitler's lesser known quotes was about that. He said (paraphrasing) that the actions of a totalitarian state forced a democratic state to act just like the totalitarian state. It's an interesting and somewhat accurate perspective. Add in the war being a Total War, a Mechanized War and an Industrial War and Fire Bombing becomes almost inevitable.
Once the Totalitarian State sets the parameters, the Democracies will follow.
I say - if the opponent doesn't value their own lives - why should we.
My understanding is the tactic used in Iraq and A-Stan is the "Hearts and Minds" approach to let the locals know that we value their lives while the opposition (Involuntary Martrydom) sees their deaths as a neccessary evil in pursuit of their polictial and ideological goals.
I don't know how effective it was/is. Most likely, it was a combination of factors that lead to the improving situation in Iraq.
Unfortunately it is not working. Just an example..
We build a school for the children. The people are grateful and happy and very appreciative. Later after we leave the area, the Taliban or Al Qaeda come in and destroy the school and kill a bunch of people, warning them that they should not support us. The next time we come back to help them again, they do not want our help for such things because it only brings the Taliban and Al Qaeda back. Unfortunately we can not be there all the time to stop these things.
The Iraqi workers that would work on our camps tried to do so without being identified outside of the camps because the insurgents would come and kill their families at night. Why do you think the Police there have to wear face masks? Same thing...
Long before and during the 1914-18 world war Britain and France had thriving empires. In 1914 Germany and Italy were only newly re-united "countries" (post 1848 revolutions) and both were newcomers to the empire club.