The role of the atomic bombings in compelling Japanese surrender is still hotly debated, and will remain so until the end of time because, quite frankly, we don

The role of the atomic bombings in compelling Japanese surrender is still hotly debated, and will remain so until the end of time because, quite frankly, we don't have the historical record that will conclusively decide the debate. Strategic bombing, outside of maybe the two atomic bombings, has never compelled an enemy's surrender despite several attempts to do so. And the fact that the bomber corps's own survey, trying to argue for the value of its work, suggested that it alone was capable of bringing Japan to surrender without any other forces given enough time should be regarded with a healthy degree of skepticism.