View Single Post
  #6   Report Post  
posted to rec.boats
Tim Tim is offline
external usenet poster
 
First recorded activity by BoatBanter: Nov 2006
Posts: 19,107
Default Brigadier General Paul Tibbets, RIP


Chuck Gould wrote:
.."

General MacArthur apparently did not voice any official support for or
opposition to the bombing in 1945, but his consultant Norman Cousins
wrote in 1987 that MacArthur's oft-stated private opinion was "The war
might have ended weeks earlier if the United States had agreed, as it
later did anyway, to the retention of the institution of the emperor."


Interesting to note, that later on, McArther thought it would have
been a good idea to drop a nuke on N.Korea and even China during the
time of the Korean conflict.

So, yes, RIP Paul Tibbets. He was a brave and dutiful airman, simply
doing his job. Opinions will vary enormously whether there is any
guilt to bear over the manner in which we chose to end WWII, but the
heroes of the hour (or the villians, depending on ones' point of view)
will be found among the decision makers of the day- not down among the
ranks of those who simply upheld their oath to follow orders.


agreed.


Also a note about Truman, I don't know for a fact but supposedly,
Harry Truman was confronting Openheimer over the success of the
nukings, and Openheimer said "Mr. President, I feel like I have blood
on my hands"

President Truman then gave Openheimer a handkerchief and casually said
"Here, wipe it off."

Of course, I can't confirm nor deny this story as fact.