It was a tough call. I think the biggest thing it came down to was just how dirty their attack on us was and the desire to end the war immediately. Suicide bombers are common these days, back then wars were fought under a set of "rules". Civilians died at Pearl Harbor. Americans ALL wanted blood. Kamikaze soldiers lead us to believe the Japanese would fight until their last man, woman, and child was dead. It was believed that an incredible display of power like the atom bomb would take out enough of them at once to convince the rest of them to surrender. Simply taking out one base with the bomb wouldnt be enough. News of a couple bases getting blown up would not spread. News of cities disappearing was unstoppable. It took only 8 days for an unconditional surrender from Japan. The war efforts could then all be focused to Europe. Had we not bombed Japan, how much longer would it have taken to win in Europe? How many more Jews would have died? How much more damage would Hitler have done? People spend their whole life learning about the world wars.... It was a crazy fucking time. Boys as young as 12 years old were enlisting to fight by their own free will. How many 12 year olds are trying to go fight in the middle east right now or even give any fucks about whats going on over there? Crazy times. Even after 9/11; None of my teenage friends were wanting to go fight, my 16 year old self included. I only remember one or two kids that ended up serving in the military.