Dropping the Atomic Bombs on Japan was a Necessary Evil

Dwight D. Eisenhower, in the Mandate of Change, said "During his recitation of the relevant facts, I had been conscious of a feeling of depression and so I voiced to him my grave misgivings, first on the basis of my belief that Japan was already defeated and that dropping the bomb was completely unnecessary, and secondly because I thought that our country should avoid shocking world opinion by the use of a weapon whose employment was, I thought, no longer mandatory as a measure to save American lives." It is because I agree with Dwight D. Eisenhower that I must negate "Resolved: Dropping the Atomic Bombs on Japan was a necessary evil." To successfully negate the resolution. I provide some observations for this round. 1. For the negative side (con) to win, they must prove there was an alternative opposed to the dropping at least of one of the bombs, and that the alternative proves better. 2. We must specifically look towards the battle of Japan in WW2, anything else is unresolutional and should not be weighed in today's debate. 3. The affirmative must prove that the dropping of BOTH ATOMIC BOMBS (Not just one) was necessary for an American victory over Japan. Contention One: The dropping of the second atomic bomb on Nagasaki was militarily unnecessary. [1] Dwight D. Eisenhower said, "Japan was already defeated and dropping the bomb was completely unnecessary." Eisenhower knew, as did the entire senior U.S. officer corps, that by mid 1945 Japan was defenseless. [1] Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, Commander in Chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, reflected this reality when he wrote, "The Japanese had, in fact, already sued for peace. The atomic bomb played no decisive part, from a purely military point of view, in the defeat of Japan." Admiral William D. Leahy, Chief of Staff to President Truman, said the same thing: "The use of [the atomic bombs] at Hiroshima and Nagasaki was of no material assistance in our war against Japan. The Japanese were already defeated and ready to surrender." [2] One day before the bombing of Nagasaki, the Emperor notified Foreign Minister Shigenori of his desire to "insure a prompt ending of hostilities". Togo wrote in his memoir that the Emperor "warned [him] that since we could no longer continue the struggle, now that a weapon of this devastating power was used against us, we should not let slip the opportunity [to end the war] by engaging in attempts to gain more favorable conditions." First off, Dwight D. Eisenhower, concedes that the dropping of the atomic bomb was clearly unnecessary. Going to the second quote, the use of the atomic bombs created no assistance in the war against Japan, and Japan had already sued for peace. To back up that Japan had wanted peace, I provide a third quote from the Emperor to the Foreign Minister Shigenori. He wanted to have a prompt ending of hostilities, and after the first bombing, he was ready to give up. I have quoted the leader of the United States at that time agreeing it was not needed, and that the emperor was ready to discuss even though of how much pride the Japanese have. Thus, proving the second bombing was completely unnecessary. Operation Downfall, the alternative to trying to end the war, would not have been executed until three months later. After the first bomb hit, Japan was ready to end war. However, the America rushed its choice and dropped the second, unnecessary bomb. The U.S. knowingly caused masses of civilian casualties with weapons of mass destruction when one would have clearly been enough. [1] http://www.doug-long.com... [2] Togo, Shigenori: The Cause of Japan, page 315. Simon and Schuster, 1956. I am now ready to hear Pro's rebuttal when ready.