Quote:
Originally Posted by nik-
Additionally, Truman's own diary in an entry almost two weeks before the bombing states he decided to, and told the military to use it.
http://www.dannen.com/decision/hst-jl25.html
Agreement or disagreement on targeting aside. He decided it. |
Here's the actual order from your link:
Quote:
1. The 509 Composite Group, 20th Air Force will deliver its first special bomb as soon as weather will permit visual bombing after about 3 August 1945 on one of the targets: Hiroshima, Kokura, Niigata and Nagasaki. To carry military and civilian scientific personnel from the War Department to observe and record the effects of the explosion of the bomb, additional aircraft will accompany the airplane carrying the bomb. The observing planes will stay several miles distant from the point of impact of the bomb.
2. Additional bombs will be delivered on the above targets as soon as made ready by the project staff. Further instructions will be issued concerning targets other than those listed above.
3. Discussion of any and all information concerning the use of the weapon against Japan is reserved to the Secretary of War and the President of the United States. No communiques on the subject or releases of information will be issued by Commanders in the field without specific prior authority. Any news stories will be sent to the War Department for specific clearance.
4. The foregoing directive is issued to you by direction and with the approval of the Secretary of War and of the Chief of Staff, USA. It is desired that you personally deliver one copy of this directive to General MacArthur and one copy to Admiral Nimitz for their information.
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The decision to drop the bomb and the location to drop the bomb were made mostly by airmen monitoring the weather in Japan.
Truman's next order, to CEASE dropping all munitions without strict authorization from himself speaks to that. In a hand written response to General Groves (informing Truman another bomb is ready), Truman writes, "It is not to be released on Japan without the express authority of the President." If you're in control of dropping the bomb, why the need for another order that spells out specifically "Don't drop anything unless *I* say so."? Unless of course, you are re-asserting control over using those devices.