We didn’t need to drop the bomb — and even our WW II military icons knew it

[JohnnyRingo]

66. I don't know if I'd go that far.

The terms of surrender were unconditional, the same that was offered to and refused by the Germans. In Germany the government was dismantled by a joint ground force invasion, an option that wouldn't work for months to come on the Japanese island, if ever. Hirohito knew this.

Unconditional surrender, where the country accepts occupation, is not an easy pill to accept for any belligerent nation as it involves dismantling the government and prosecution of those in power.

What would have happened if the Japanese had accepted the terms as written before the bombing is unknown, but it's likely the US knew they had no compelling reason to do so. Hirohito was given the same choice after Hiroshima at Potsdam, but balked at some of the terms, especially about him stepping down. The blast at Nagasaki with the threat of three more missions through the summer changed his mind.

I still believe the scientists wanted a test on humans, but I think the generals may have declared victory if Hirohito had surrendered. That's their respective jobs.