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Fascinating. I did not know that story, although I know about the Reynolds. I will be staying at the

World Friendship Center (the successor location of Barbara's Friendship House) next month. Will be making a presentation there about the history of the films shot by my dad's (Herbert Sussan) film crew and about my book. https://hiroshima-choosinglife.com/

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It seems to me there's no doubt that Truman and his advisors were considering the rivalry that became the Cold War when choosing when and whether to drop the bomb. What better way to demonstrate your awesome power than by devastating a city or two? I believe the USSR's territorial claims in the far east were a consideration; the US didn't want the Soviets further impinging on its own empire in the Pacific so they didn't want the USSR to be able to fight for and gain territory. The brutality of the Japanese occupation during the war throughout the Pacific theater made it easy to impose collective punishment as well.

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