Hiroshima and Nagasaki is this the first act of Terrorism in the 20th century?

Question

Over 215,000 were killed either instantly or thru time in the after affects of Radiation. Can this be considered an act of terrorism over a civilian population?

Answer 1

I believe at the time of the bombings, we really didn't know the horrible effects of what would happen. We dropped the bombs to show Japan that we had the capabilities to hurt them if they didn't stop fighting. If you look at the dates of the bombings, the war was all but over and the Oriental mindset was to fight to the last man. So, in our minds, if the war was over, why keep sending thousands of our soldiers to their deaths? The bombings were regrettable however, and I have the deepest sympathy for those killed and affected by the bombings.

To answer the question, no. Winners always write the history. If Japan had won, then yes, there could have been argument for it.

Answer 2

Whether Hiroshima and Nagasaki were acts of terror, depends on definition of terrorism you use. Here's how terrorism is defined in the Random House Dictionary: "the use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, esp. for political purposes". Here's the definition from The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: "the unlawful use or threatened use of force or violence by a person or an organized group against people or property with the intention of intimidating or coercing societies or governments, often for ideological or political reasons." Hiroshima and Nagasaki meet the Random House definition of terrorism, but not the American Heritage definition. (Which, of course, doesn't make their consequences any more tolerable...)

Even if you do consider Hiroshima and Nagasaki acts of terror, they were by no stretch of imagination first acts of terrorism of the 20th century. Consider the fact that the term "concentration camp" was coined by the British during the Anglo-Boer War of 1899-1902...

Answer 3

Since I saw that you had the other guys answer deleted, probably because you are a left wing nut who doesn't like to face the truth, I figured that I would re-post it.
















You are either retarded or misguided. Your choice. If you are concerned about details, you might actually want to do a little research of your own. Do you know that Japan was launching hot air balloons with timed explosives on them? They would be set to release their payload over the American landscape. There were over 10,000 of these balloons launched, and it caused the deaths of American children in Washington state. Didn't you know that? Huh? Didn't you? Of course not. Why, because you are not someone who actually cares about facts, but rather someone only interested in defaming the United States. You have every right to criticize America, but WE, the educated, have the right to point out just how stupid your arguments are. Do some reading, it will do you good.

Answer 4

First off, the Broncos SUCK!

Secondly,

You are either retarded or misguided. Your choice. If you are concerned about details, you might actually want to do a little research of your own. Do you know that Japan was launching hot air balloons with timed explosives on them? They would be set to release their payload over the American landscape. There were over 10,000 of these balloons launched, and it caused the deaths of American children in Washington state. Didn't you know that? Huh? Didn't you? Of course not. Why, because you are not someone who actually cares about facts, but rather someone only interested in defaming the United States. You have every right to criticize America, but WE, the educated, have the right to point out just how stupid your arguments are. Do some reading, it will do you good.

Answer 5

Please!!!! Read some history books... Was the Opium War not a crime against humanity ....Was the Boxer Revolution a crime against humanity... The Japanese "Rape of Nanjing or Stalin's starving of 20 million Ukrainian because they wanted to Farm and not work in Factories... Hitler killed Jew Gypsies homosexuals, the mentally handicapped, Poles and others for laughs... The USSR shoots 4000 Polish officers and Intellectuals... Japanese Kamikaze es kill about 5000 sailors....Hitler and the Japanese caused the death of about 60,000,000 civilians and soldiers most of them civilians!! Oh ya how about the Italians gassing,, to DEATH, barefoot Ethiopians in about 1936 PS there is also the bombing of civilians in Spain by the Nazis during their Civil War....PLEASE read about the real 20th century and don't make silly childish statements and observations...

Answer 6

Depending on your definition of terrorism, it might be one, but definetly not the first!

The Germans bombed civilians in London, then sent the V-1 and V-2 rockets against it. The Japanese bombed civilians at _Pearl Harbor, besides attacking the ships.
In WWI the Germans sent huge artillery shells 90 miles to Paris, just to terrorize the French.

Answer 7

Not at all. in August 1914 the Black hand assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary starting the first world war. That is the earliest major event I can think of.

Answer 8

WWI the use of poison gas
WWII the blitz of London
WWII Bombing of Coventry
WWII Blanket bombing of German Cities
WWII Annihilation of 6 million Jews, 3 million infirm, gypsies and gays
WWII Bataan Death March; sadly the list goes on and on culminating in the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the end of WWII.
Check your local public service station for a rerun of the recent Ken Burns series "The War", referring to WWII. very well done and informative.

Answer 9

Obviously you are not a history major. It was done as a last resort. What about the concentration camps? The Blitz? Pearl Harbor?

Answer 10

It was absolutely horrible, but not terrorism. It helped bring an end to a war that could have cost thousands of more lives.