as just a warcrime. Others hold the belief that Japan had already basically mailed in their surrenderbefore the bombings and that dropping the bomb was like using a sledgehammer to kill anant. In fact Truman himself had diary entries which stated his feeling that Russia enteringthe war would provide such a jolt to Japan that they would surrender. Russia had said itwould enter by August 15. The United States' decision on using the atomic bomb weighed on many differentviews and sources of information. The opposing arguments stemmed from the belief thatJapan would have surrendered soon enough without an invasion. It was believed that anaval blockade would choke off Japan or dropping the bomb elsewhere just for them tosee would scare them to surrender. Even if an all out invasion had to occur many believedthat it would not cost nearly as many lives and the supporters of using the bomb hadstated. Despite these arguments the decision was made to use it under the belief that aquick end was needed. The government was doing what it felt would please its owncitizens the most. We did not need the war to drag on any longer and were looking forthe quickest way out and it seemed this was true no matter what the consequences wouldbe. Truman's thoughts are best summed up by his diary as to why he decided to use thebomb whether Russia was going to enter the war with Japan or not. His statement fromhis diary from January 1, 1946, is from an unsent letter to Byrnes that discusses hisfeelings following Potsdam Conference about Russia entering the war. It reads, "At thetime we were anxious for Russian entry into the Japanese War. Of course we found laterthat we didn't need Russians there and the Russians have been a head ache to us eversince." He wrote on August 11, 1945, "We are all on edge waiting for the Japs to answer. Have had a hell of a day."...
