The Use of Atomic Bomb in Japan

Introduction The reason why the United States was compelled to employ the use of a more lethal weapon in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan has been at the heart of many scholarly writings. The question is, why did the United States decide to engage a deadly attack and yet there was a league of nations charged with conflict resolution?Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Use of Atomic Bomb in Japan specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The idealists came up with an international organization in the name of the League of Nations to address problems of war. The use of atomic bomb therefore was shaped by international variables such as scientific research and discoveries. Causes to any phenomena are multi-dimensional meaning that they should be studied in a multi-disciplinary way such as geographically, psychologically, politically and economically. It therefore follows that causes to the use of atomic bomb in Japan should be divided into particular and profound causes. Particular causes are those that are immediate while profound causes are underlying issues. Historians are interested with immediate causes of war while political scientists try to explore long-term causes but both will be dealt with in this study.1 Taylor examined that war is like a road accident because it has the immediate causes such as over speeding as well as long-term causes such as the nature roads. Scholars have been interested in both immediate and underlying causes for application of atomic bomb in Hiroshima. The application of the strategy did not have a single cause because WWII had roots in the society and the then international system. Quency wright in his works about study of war vol.1 (1942) observed that war has multi-causal factors, arguing that war in reality results from a total situation involving ultimately almost everything that has happened to the human race up to the time war is realized. Kennedy Wolfs in his works ‘Man, the State and war’ gives three images of war based on assumption that war results from human nature, internal nature of the state and anarchic nature of the international system.2Advertising Looking for essay on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More War is as old as human existence and characterizes the nature of human beings. A clear relationship exists between human nature and conflict. ST Augustine claimed that war is part of society and human life because of sin, man exhibits love for hurtful things and vain which constitutes the source of human conflict. Benedict de Spinoza observes in a short article called political treatise that war occurs because man is led by passion not reason hence there is a conflict between passion and reason. Rein Niebuhr in his works ‘Beyond Tragedy’ argued that war comes from the dark unconsciousness sources of the human psyche. Confucius on his part po stulated that there is deceit and cunningness among human beings leading to war thus war is an innate factor in human beings. John Stoessinger claimed that people are victims of their own perceptional limitations because they are limited in their comprehension of natural phenomena and hence are bound to make wrong judgments.3 This paper examines the particular and profound causes that made the United States to utilize the atomic bomb in Japan. The leaders’ idiosyncrasies and the nature of societal variables such as natural resources and geographical territories are explored in detail. Particular Causes End of World War Two The United States applied atomic bombs on Japan in order to force the Japanese officials to cease-fire. It invaded Japan because of the desire to subdue it and cut short the war. Japan made its own land a battlefield without taking into consideration the social welfare of its citizens. The U.S. had to put to an end to what Japan was planning because if it w ent ahead with its plans, more than one million Americans and Britons would have lost their lives. Dropping of atomic bomb in Hiroshima is said to have solved many humanitarian problems because many people could have died could Japan have attacked the U.S. There has been a heated debate over the American verdict of using a weapons of mass destruction on Hiroshima. President Truman never considered it a big issue.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on The Use of Atomic Bomb in Japan specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Losses in an attack of Japan would have been great. Following the dropping of the atomic bombs, American public opinion in Fortune magazine in late 1945 and a 1944 opinion poll was supportive of Truman’s decision. The Japanese who were referred to as â€Å"japs†, were depicted with unsophisticated racial stereotypes, and were seen as devious and definitely not to be trusted.4 Compel Japan to Bo w Down The bomb was meant to soften Japanese stance and make it to abandon war plans. Indeed the bomb-facilitated negotiations among Japanese officials since they noticed that war had more implications on them than any other person. Earlier attempts to put to an end the war by use of nuclear weapons had failed to bear fruits as Japanese military were not willing to back off the fight. This forced the U.S. to use atomic bombs since it perceived that many lives would be lost if Japan continued with the war. It is believed that, President Harry Truman used atomic bombs on Japan as a way of intimidating Stalin so that he could keep him out of the war. However, the general officers did not approve this move and they denounced their commander-in-chief.5 Takaki, Ronald, in his book â€Å"Hurishima: Why American Dropped the Atomic Bomb† noted that by 1944, the war had noticeably turned against the Japanese. In late October, General MacArthur went back to the Philippine island of Laye tte. The Japanese started to use kamikaze pilots in an anxious attempt to obliterate Allied ships. Quite a few more bloody battles waited ahead for American forces. Americas recorded more than twenty five thousand fatalities at the mà ªlà ©e of Iwo Jima and another fifty thousand at the encounter of Okinawa. After these battles, though, nothing was left to stop an Allied invasion of Japan.6 These extremely bloody battles deeply disturbed military officials who were planning for an attack of Japan. Japanese resistance to such an attack would have been fervent. President Truman was informed about the new scientific development in 1944 after the death of Roosevelt in 1945.Advertising Looking for essay on history? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Manhattan project was erected in 1942 specifically to develop an atomic bomb. The bomb was manufactured in Los Alamos, New Mexico with J. Robert Oppenheimer as the director. The effectiveness and efficiency of the weapon was first experienced in Mexico desert in 1945. The bomb did not contribute much to the end of Japanese aggression since it only increased the speed of surrender because the officials had already begun engaging in surrender talks. Long before the dropping of the bombs, Japanese leaders were determined to surrender and were taking steps toward ending the war. The U.S. leaders knew from marine aptitude interception of Japan’s to-secret codes. The United States secretary of war Stimson was much concerned with deliberations on the use of the bomb due its effects. In 1947, at the urging of government officials worried about the growing number of people puzzled by the use of the bomb, Stimson wrote an article titled â€Å"The decision to use the atomic bomb† .7 He argued that the decision to drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima was made only after vigilant deliberation by Truman and his advisers of all the courses of action open to them to end the war at the lowest possible cost Economic reasons However, the question arose as to whether there was anything like a decision to use the bombs, or whether Truman and his advisers were carried along by events. John Lewis Gaddis in his book â€Å"The United States and the origins of the Cold War, 1941-1947,† Truman prearranged the dropping of the atomic bombs to give good reason for the cost resources used to build them.8 The bombs cost more than two billion dollars, and required the work of scores of top scientists, thousands of workers and several industrial firms. After all this time and spending, Truman had to use the atomic bombs at one time and the war proved to be the best time to use them. Upon hearing of the victorious explosion over Hiroshima, Truman appeared relived and noted that , â€Å"We have spent two billion dollars on the greatest scientific gamble in history and won.†9 The dropping of the second bomb gave the impression of having its own momentum. Truman’s July 24 strike order authorized the use of the bomb as they were all set, and the technicians on Tinian Island worked agitatedly to drop the second bomb in response to the order. Prevalent detestation of and vengeance against the Japanese for the bombing of Pearl Harbor may have produced the impetus for dropping the atomic bombs. To many Americans, including Truman, it warranted almost any act against it in vengeance. Expressing his feeling of revenge, Truman said in a private letter written soon after the bombing of Nagasaki, that nobody was more bothered by the use of the atomic bombs than he was, but he was deeply troubled over the uncalled-for attack by the Japanese on Pearl Harbor. Protect U.S dominance Alperrovitz, Gar, in his book â€Å"Atomic Diplomacy: Hurishima and Potsdam: The use of the Atomic Bomb and the American confrontation with Soviet Power† argued that the United States dropped the atomic bombs not to overcome Japan but vigorously to protect U.S. dominance in the already brewing Soviet-American disagreement, which has, of course, prearranged the postwar worldwide order.10 Their analyses of planning for the postwar world, from 1942 forward, underline official description of the Soviet Union as the primary menace to U.S. primacy in world affairs. Nonetheless, while the U.S. military had shattered Japan,’s capacity to fight violent war beyond her borders, distressed major cities, and blocked access to critical materials; it had neither secured Japan’s give up nor broken the will to battle of the Japanese military11. There seems to be no motive to choose between analyses that view the bomb as a weapon to force Japan’s surrender and those that emphasize its value as a weapon to threaten the Soviet Union and establish U.S. hegemony, and both were sufficiently served by dropping the atomic bomb.12 The bombings precipitated the end to Second World War because leaders were shocked even though they were still reluctant to surrender. The deaths did not go down well with the emperor who took an extra step of urging political leaders to cease-fire and agree to talk with the rest of the world. The emperor was respected because he was both a temporal and spiritual leader. He could be reached in the times of crisis to provide advices and directions. Prestige and Security Japan was reported to be preparing weapons of mass destruction such as chemical bombs. The weapons were on the wrong hands according to the United States government. Japan was an aggressive state that would use the weapons in unjustifiable ways such as revenging against innocent people. The United States president, Truman, felt that Americans were going to be affected most and hence there was a reason to intervene before things got worse. Amer icans had been casualties of Japanese recklessness and President Truman knew that anything was possible with Japan because they were determined to go on with war. The only way that would guarantee mass happiness in the United States and other allied states was to attack the destroyer before it could strike. Many Americans had lost their lives and properties and the government was unhappy with that, it was its mandate to ensure that no more destruction could be carried out to its people.13 Natural Resources The American government saw Japan as a threat to its quest for attaining natural resources in the region. The United States wanted to access the region but Japan was a threat because of conflicting interests. The World War II provided an opportunity that saw the United States weaken the competitor. This was seen as territorial aggrandizement because the United States was unhappy with the way Japan controlled the territory full of natural resources. The only way to scare the enemy was to apply weapons of mass destruction to its citizens.14 The United States was not after making peace because the administrators of Japan were in Tokyo but the bombs were dropped kilometers away. Japan was forced to surrender and promised never to engage in military aggression. The United States was trying to reduce its opponents in its pursuit to global domination. The Japanese could have worsened things could they have been left to go on with their weapon formation. Self Determination and Nationalism The United States is always known to be a self-glorious nation. The war provided a good opportunity for them to demonstrate to the whole world what they had achieved in the world of science. Talking about it alone could not be enough since other states such as Russia and China could not believe. The war provided a good chance for them to apply practically whatever they had. Other states could believe in their allegations and live according to their wishes lest they experience the s ame. The bomb could be applied to any aggressor but Japan was chosen because it was a major competitor. President Truman therefore opted for the bomb to achieve glory for Americans hence fostering nationalism. Americans today view themselves as the most united people mainly because of common history created by leaders such as Truman. America had other means of stopping the war but they never thought about them since they saw application of the bomb to be serving a number of reasons. Application of the bomb therefore was meant to serve self-interests and wishes not the will of the majority; it only served the appetites of Americans not the whole world as it was thought.15 Profound Causes At this point, long term issues are discussed such as the behavior of leaders both in the American government and Japanese government, the political climates in both states, societal variables such as ethnic composition, institutional structure of governments that is the roles played by various leade rs and finally the international system. We analyze how the variables contributed in the application of the atomic bomb to Hiroshima, Japan. The causes associated with these variables are observed over a particular time since they are not immediate. Ideological Reasons Some critics of the application of the bomb argue that United States was sending a message to communist states urging them to beware of what capitalists can do. The arguments are accurate to some extent because during preparation of the bomb, no communist state was involved instead it was only Canada and United Kingdom all of which are capitalists. The United States could not have applied the bomb to an aggressive capitalist state. Japanese orientation to the economy was incompatible to that of capitalism since the government owned property. This did not go down well with Americans who wanted to build an Americana empire. It was estimated that Japan’s military power could be used to advance communist ideas henc e the need to destroy it. Idiosyncratic Causes The focus is on behavior of individuals but not all individuals, only those concerned with foreign policy formulation. They are individuals whose behaviors have implications in international relations. We examine how age, physical health, childhood experience, educational level and belief system of leaders influenced the use of atomic bomb in Hiroshima, Japan. The United States’ foreign affairs decision makers were associated with: recklessness, adventurism, innovativeness, impatience aggressiveness, experimentalism, revolutionary and were risk takers. The leaders wanted to introduce something new to the world without caring whether it could have more harm than good.16 The United States foreign affairs at the time had hawkish and highly opinionated ideas, which reflected in the country’s foreign relations. The leaders on the Japanese side had strong belief system that never allowed them to relent easily. The leaders had tr oubled childhood experiences, which affected their decision-making processes. Japanese leaders at the time had little formal education, they had little knowledge about the nature of the international system hence their level of worldview was limited to Japanese environment. Physical health played a role in the American-Japanese crisis because President Truman is said to have suffered from a Cardio-Vascular disease, which affected his level of concentration. At times, the president became intolerant to advice driving him to take extreme decisions. These variables combined with the official positions occupied by leaders to cause profound effects to decisions made. The powers of the president in most cases are not easily challenged. When President Truman ordered the use of atomic bomb, no one dared to challenge him because the office he occupied was unchallengeable. The powers and resources of the presidency office largely influenced the use of atomic bomb in Japan. The president had t o use the prerogative powers provided by the constitution because it was believed that the lives of Americans were in danger.17 Governmental Politics The factors looked into in this cause are types of governments and governmental structure. The leaders were more interested in self-interests rather than the wishes of majority. They prepared for war with other states without seeking people’s mandates. Leaders who adhere to the provisions of the constitution do not practice things contract to the wishes of the majority. It is never the wish of people to engage in war because they fear for their lives and those of their families. In weak democracies, people are not consulted before major decisions are taken. The United States wanted to contain the influence of Japanese leaders who wanted to take their citizens into unnecessary war. International System Factors that led to application of atomic bombs at this level are called systemic variables. They include polarity and the status of international law. Polarity is distribution of power in the international system whereby it combines military strength, economic power, cultural influence, natural resource endowment and political/diplomatic power. The super power influences events in the world hence the use of atomic power was one way of demonstrating power globally. Conclusion The bringing into play of an atomic bomb had many causes, which ranged from socio-economic to political causes. The government of the United States could not sit back and watch Japan rise to becoming one of the world’s super powers. This forced it to come up with ways that could silence Japan. The best way was to use deadly weapons of mass destruction. This is what has been discusses as profound causes. For the United States to be relevant to its people and the rest of the world, it had to end innocent killings and loss of property. It had to cut short the Second World War by forcing Japan to surrender. Japan could not have surren dered were it not for the atomic bomb hence the United States is justified to have engage in the war for both personal interests and global interests. The United States achieved its goals because Japan agreed to negotiate and at the same time, it agreed not to be aggressive in future. Bibliography Alperrovitz, Gar. Atomic Diplomacy: Hurishima and Potsdam: The use of the Atomic Bomb and the American confrontation with Soviet Power. New York: Penguin, 1985. Gaddis, Lewis. The United States and the origins of the Cold War, 1941-1947. New York: Columbia University Press, 1972 Glantz, David. The Soviet Invasion of Japan: Quarterly Journal of Military History, vol. 7, no. 3, Spring 1995 Malcolm, McConnell. The Last Mission: The Secret Story of World War II’s Final Battle. New York: Broadway Books, 2002. Skates, Ray. The Invasion of Japan: Alternative to the Bomb. Columbia, SC: University of South Carolina Press, 1994. Stimson, Henry. â€Å"The decision to use the Atomic Bomb†. Harper’, February 1947. Takaki, Ronald. Hurishima: Why American Dropped the Atomic Bomb. Boston: Little, Brown, 1995. Wainstock, Dennis. The Decision to Drop the Atomic Bomb: Greenwood Publishing Group, 1996. Footnotes 1 David, Glantz. The Soviet Invasion of Japan: Quarterly Journal of Military History, vol. 7, no. 3, Spring 1995 2 Ray, Skates. The Invasion of Japan: Alternative to the Bomb. Columbia, SC: University of South Carolina Press, 1994 3 McConnell, Malcolm. The Last Mission: The Secret Story of World War II’s Final Battle. New York: Broadway Books, 2002. 4 McConnell, Malcolm. The Last Mission: The Secret Story of World War II’s Final Battle. New York: Broadway Books, 2002. 5 Ray, Skates. The Invasion of Japan: Alternative to the Bomb. Columbia, SC: University of South Carolina Press, 1994. 6 Ronald, Takaki. Hurishima: Why American Dropped the Atomic Bomb. Boston: Little, Brown, 1995, p. 10 7 Henry, Stimson. â€Å"The decision to use the Atomic Bomb †. Harper’, February 1947, 2. 8 Lewis, Gaddis. The United States and the origins of the Cold War, 1941-1947. New York: Columbia University Press, 1972. 9 Lewis, Gaddis. The United States and the origins of the Cold War, 1941-1947. (New York: Columbia University Press, 1972), 40 10 Gar, Alperrovitz. Atomic Diplomacy: Hurishima and Potsdam: The use of the Atomic Bomb and the American confrontation with Soviet Power. New York: Penguin, 1985. 11 Ibid. p. 385 12 David, Glantz. The Soviet Invasion of Japan: Quarterly Journal of Military History, vol. 7, no. 3, Spring 1995 13 Dennis, Wainstock. The Decision to Drop the Atomic Bomb: Greenwood Publishing Group, 1996. 14 Ray, Skates. The Invasion of Japan: Alternative to the Bomb. Columbia, SC: University of South Carolina Press, 1994. 15 Ray, Skates. The Invasion of Japan: Alternative to the Bomb. Columbia, SC: University of South Carolina Press, 1994. 16 Dennis, Wainstock. The Decision to Drop the Atomic Bomb: Greenwood Publish ing Group, 1996. 17 McConnell, Malcolm. The Last Mission: The Secret Story of World War II’s Final Battle. New York: Broadway Books, 2002. This essay on The Use of Atomic Bomb in Japan was written and submitted by user Ben Hampton to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Narragansett Yacht Essay Example

Narragansett Yacht Essay Example Narragansett Yacht Essay Narragansett Yacht Essay 1. What is the economic ordering quantity for standard 5-inch winches if they are ordered from (a) Supplier A, and (b) Supplier B? Round your answers up to the next whole unit, because Narragansett cannot order a fraction of a winch. What assumptions are implied in the EOQ model? Do these assumptions appear reasonable when applied to Narragansett Yacht? How many orders should be placed each year if Narragansett buys from Supplier A? If the firm buys from Supplier B? What is the reorder point (in units) for each supplier? Assume for now that no safety stocks are held and use a 360-day year. Calculate the total inventory cost (the cost of ordering plus the cost of carrying inventories) that Narragansett would incur from each supplier. On the basis of the information developed thus far, which supplier should Narragansett use? Narragansett currently carries a safety stock of 75 winches to protect itself against stockouts due to delivery delays and/or an increase in its usage rate. However, if it decides to switch to Supplier B, Narragansett would need to increase the safety stock to 150 units to reflect Supplier B’s longer lead time. a. Assuming that the desired safety stock is currently on hand, what is the total cost of ordering and carrying inventories, including the safety stock, using Supplier A? What is the cost of using Supplier B? b. How does the introduction of safety stocks affect the reorder points as calculated in Question 3? c. Assume that there is a shipping delay. How many days after an order is placed could Narragansett continue to operate, at its expected usage rate, before its entire stock of 5-inch winches is reduced to zero? Compute this figure for both Supplier A and Supplier B. Narragansett’s production is relatively constant throughout the year, but if its sales and production were highly seasonal, could the EOQ model still be used? If so, would modifications be required? Explain. Suppose Supplier A, the current supplier, offers a 2 percent discount on the $300 per- unit purchase price on orders of 250 or more units. In an attempt to win the contract, Supplier B is also offering a 2 percent discount on ordersof 250 or more. Should Narragansett take the quantity discount from Supplier A? In answering this question, assume that Narragansett holds a 75-unit safety stock. ) What are some methods that Narragansett might use to control the inventory of 5-inch winches? That is, how can it keep track of the number of units in stock and then be sure an order is placed when the order point is reached? In many situations, companies are using just-in-time inventory procedures with good results. What is involved in the JIT approach, and what factors would need t o be considered before you could recommend that Narragansett adopt or not adopt a JIT system

Promotion & Information Systems Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Promotion & Information Systems - Essay Example The use of social networks and location based services have opened a door on the privacy of individuals that can be exploited by advertisers, but also by those who have ideas that can use that information for criminal purposes. Location based services are designed to provide information based on tracking the location of the user through the use of the cell phone. Several services can be provided through location based services, including turn-by-turn navigation or finding someone or something. GPS navigation allows the user to have a moment by moment update of how to achieve finding a location. Using location based services to find a specific need, such as asking the application to find the nearest business that provides a certain product or service, allows for quicker mobility and access to businesses. The technology is engaged as the user’s location is stored through a location provider object which is then configured to the specification of the builder of the application in order to react in a way that creates a benefit for the application that is being created (Fitzek & Charaf, 2009, p. 199). The use of the website Twitter has been designed to provide a short description of what is being done by the user so that followers can know what they are doing at any given moment. Foursquare, however, has developed the use of business and services and the reporting of that use so that networks of friends are updated regularly into a game that rewards users with badges and sometimes free goods and services from businesses based on the reported use of those businesses through the website combined with the application on the smart phone. According to Levinson & Gibson, (2010) using the gathered information about a competitor and its patrons can provide a business with the ability to contact those patrons and provide a special Twitter coupon in order to divert users of one business to your own competing business.

(Film adaptation)should be named in accordance with the thesis Research Paper

(Film adaptation)should be named in accordance with the thesis statement - Research Paper Example s who were graced with the opportunity of reading Mark O’Brien’s insightful and thought provoking article upon its initial publication in 1990 must have been touched by the profoundness of the story and the raw streak of honesty which prevails in the author’s recollection of a journey which triggered and fulfilled the exploration of his sexuality. Yet, it is the 2012 adaptation of O’Brien’s article under the name of The Sessions starring John Hawkes as Mark O’Brien and Helen Hunt as sex surrogate Cheryl Cohen-Greene that delves into a greater comprehension of the psychological elements of disability, which is a state that for the most part has always been associated with physical consequences rather than accepting the emotional characteristics which are linked with it. The elements that transform the article â€Å"On Seeing a Sex Surrogate† into the motion picture The Sessions are rooted in O’Brien’s discussion of his life’s intimate details openly with the priest, the development of a bond of love between himself and Cheryl and his discovery of a life partner in Susan. These factors reemphasize and restate the idea that the positive molding of an individual’s psychological state through love, acceptance and understanding can trigger a profound change in one’s self-image. While, this phenomenon is gradually observed by the audience throughout the course of the film it is eventually witnessed and reaffirmed when the emotional outburst of the three most important women in his life – his nurse, Cheryl and his life partner in the last phase of his existence is projected at Mark’s funeral. Therefore, The Sessions is an insight into the life of disabled individuals who have to fight through life de aling with psychological issues that are prompted by the negative attitude of society and religious construct towards invalids’ sexuality and how these issues can be resolved through the application of positive psychology including the transformation

War On Iraq And The Bombing Of Pearl Harbor Essay Example for Free

War On Iraq And The Bombing Of Pearl Harbor Essay In July of 1941, Japanese assets were frozen in America, and the consequent cessation of shipment of oil, scrap iron, and other goods from the United States, Japans economy was in most severe straits and her power to wage war directly threatened and her ability to make war was becoming severely threatened by the ongoing embargoes against her. Japanese military planners estimated that reserves of oil, painfully accumulated in the late 1930s when the risk of just such a squeeze became evident, would last at most two years by which time it would be far too late to make a stand, militarily, against the United States in China or elsewhere. Somehow, Japan had found its way to a no good choices scenario, with acquiescence to American demands dooming Japan to a less than coequal status with the worlds dominant powers, or war with the United States sooner than later before supplies dwindled below practical abilities to make war. (Russett, 1997, p. 46). Diplomatic efforts proved useless when The United States, and the British and Dutch, would end the embargoes only as a response to Japanese withdrawal from air and naval bases in Indochina; and at this time the Japanese military began to consider war with the U. S. inevitable. Most of the Japanese elite were opposed to any settlement which would in effect have meant withdrawal from China which would also mean the increase of Western, particularly American influence, in precisely those ares which Japans ruling castes believed were the natural provinces of the Japanese Empire. (Russett, 1997, p. 47). While the Japanese military planned for war, the American government also planned for an escalation of hostilities: By autumn 1941, however, opinion was crystallizing in the highest levels of the American decision-making system this process was leading to war. Roosevelt informally polled his cabinet on the question of whether the country would support war against Japan and the result was that All members responded in the affirmative; with public support behind the war, conflict with Japan seemed immanent. (Russett, 1997, p. 50) By the beginning of December their attack was irrevocably set in motion. The Japanese conviction that war could not be limited to the British and Dutch had to be based wholly on inference. Yet it was a correct analysis and a solid conviction, as shown by the otherwise inexplicable risk they took at Pearl Harbor the attack ensured American popular support for the war in the Pacific, just as the moral argument against Hitler in Europe worked to fuel public support for the American entry into World War Two. (Russett, 1997, p. 51) Although ambiguity persists in the public perception of the contribution of the United States intelligence services to the build up toward the Iraqi War, official statements by high-ranking intelligence officials who served during the time period in question maintain a specific position: that the U. S. possessed credible information that Iraq maintained an arsenal of weapons of mass destruction and these weapons posed a potential threat to America. In point of fact when classified intelligence reports surfaced in 2002 which seemed to indicate that the United States had no reliable evidence before hostilities that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction. (Official Rebuts Story of, 2003, p. A03). The question as to whether or not the war can be considered a fall-out of bad intelligence then, would seem to be a non-starter. The simple facts, despite leaked report of 2002, are that the intelligence agencies, including the CIA and the DIA posited and maintained the position through the buildup and afterward that Iraq posed a threat to the U. S. and that Iraq possessed illegal weapons of mass destruction. Since no weapons were found, there was obviously and most tragically a profound failure of intelligence. A failure so profound, in fact, that the blame for a catastrophe involving potentially hundreds of thousands of deaths and untold trillions of dollars should lie squarely on the intelligence gathering agencies who so grossly mishandled their responsibilities and led America into an unnecessary and dearly costly war. Works Cited Decosse, D. E. Authority, Lies, and War: Democracy and the Development of Just War Theory. Theological Studies, 67(2), 378+. (2006). Official Rebuts Story of Iraq Intelligence Shortcomings; Says Leaked Classified Report Was Misread regarding Weapons Program. The Washington Times, p. A03. (2003, June 7). Russett, B. M. No Clear and Present Danger: A Skeptical View of the United States Entry into World War II. Boulder,Colo. : Westview Press. (1997).

True Lust Essay -- Essays Papers

True Lust Romantic love is both an inward and an outward admiration and investment in another person. When a person loves another person, he or she displays admiration and respect for that person’s body, personality, emotions, and desires. On the other hand, when a person’s only admiration for another person is for their body, such desire cannot be defined as love. For example, a rich, middle-aged man may truly admire and enjoy his prostitute’s body, but his investment in her aesthetic beauty does not equate to love for her as a person. His fixation is purely visual and tangible, yet his regard for the prostitute’s personality and emotions is, most likely, almost non-existent. Final diagnosis: the rich man does not love his prostitute, but lusts for her. Vladimir Nabokov’s novel, Lolita, portrays this distinction between love and lust through a morally complicated and controversial story. The story consists of many layered themes, which a reader must first sort through in order to make sense of the question of love. The subject most explicitly present in Lolita is pedophilia. Because we live in world of pre-conceived and ingrained societal norms regarding what is â€Å"morally acceptable† and â€Å"kosher,† and because pedophilia is generally considered one of the most heinous and immoral of crimes, many readers cringe at the very mention of such a topic and, therefore, fail to recognize the underlying and essential question of love verses lust present in the novel. In order to achieve a true understanding of Lolita, a reader must set aside such societal norms and pre-conceived notions. Gaining a true understanding of Nabokov’s novel requires an open and unbiased mind. Through objective eyes, then, pedophilia is nothin... ...sely acquainted with Dolores Haze by the end of the novel, despite the lengthy descriptions offered about her. Humbert never offers the reader a true portrayal of Dolly as a person with life and feelings, but only a distorted physical portrait of the nymphet, Lolita. Aside from the controversial pedophilia issue, Lolita still remains a lust story. Nothing proves this point more effectively than Humbert’s own statement: â€Å"You see, I loved her. It was love at first sight, at last sight, at ever and ever sight† (Nabokov 270). Works Consulted - Nabokov, Vladimir. Lolita. New York: Random House, 1997. - Ostermiller, Marcus. â€Å"Love: a disguise for Lust.† 2005. - Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. New York: W.W. Norton & Co., 1996. - Warner, Jennifer. â€Å"Is there a ‘Gay Gene’?† WebMD Medical News. ONLINE. http://my.webmd.com/content/Article/100/105486.htm.

Is Gatsby Really Great

For some, greatness is something they are born with naturally, but for others it is something they themselves must achieve in order to have. In The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald portrays Jay Gatsby with admirable qualities, a mysterious persona covering up his truths, superficial faults, and a loyal innocence dedicated to fulfilling his dream. Mr. Gatsbys traits entitle him to being labelled ‘great'. Gatsby has admirable qualities that contribute to defining his excellence.Jay's first encounter with the narrator, Nick Carraway, focuses deeply on his smile, explaining how: â€Å"It was one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it, that you may come across four or five times in a life.. † (Fitzgerald 48). Along with his captivating appearance, Mr. Jay Gatsby has a superior perspective to compliment it. His generosity is proven after one of his extravagant parties when Lucille accidentally tares her dress on a chair. She mentions that: â€Å"he asked me my name and address- inside of a week I got a package from Crorrier's with a new evening gown in it. (43). The dress Mr. Gatsby delivers is not just any dress Lucille explains, it was a value of Two hundred and sixty-five dollars. With his money, surprisingly, does not come arrogance as shown afterwards when Nick fails to recognize that he is already conversing with the mysterious man himself. Gatsby modestly responds by saying: â€Å"I thought you knew, old sport. I'm afraid I'm no a very good host,† (48). Gatsby's reaction reveals the humbleness in his character, even though this mishap is arguably not his fault. Jay's features of excellence earn him to be classified as great.The illusion Gatsby expresses in his persona gives off a sense of greatness in the aspect of magic and make-believe. Nick attends his first party at the Gatsby residence and eventually finds himself in the Library of the mansion. Alongside Jordan, ‘Owl Eyes' explains to him the truth beh ind the crowded bookcases: â€Å"It's a bona-fide printed matter. It fooled me.. Knew when to stop, too- didn't cut the pages.. † (46). Owl Eye's investigating proves the books to be real. However, he also discovers the pages of the book have not been cut, thus, have not been read.Aside from the physical props he uses, Gatsby as a person is really just an invention. At age seventeen, James Gatz is given the opportunity to become his dream by recreating himself. He escapes his unworthy past because, â€Å"His parents were shiftless and unsuccessful farm people- his imagination had never really accepted them as his parents at all. † (99). Thanks to the yacht owner, Dan Cody, James Gatz has the privilege to transform himself into the prestigious Mr. Jay Gatsby. Now Gatsby lives the cookie cutter life of the American Dream, which in the end is just another illusion.The obsessive need to capture his dream develops his relationship with past love, Daisy, for the most part as a fantasy. Near the end of chapter seven, the glorified image of Gatsby and Daisy is suddenly shattered when she tells him: â€Å"Even alone I can't say I never loved Tom,† (133). The devastation Gatsby faces leaves him in denial, blinded by the pursuit of his dreams. The false impression Gatsby illustrates is something the average human being is not capable of doing. Perfection is never achieved within Gatsby, though his faults are only that of superficial matter.Tom outs Gatsby's past crime life in front of Daisy, revealing that: â€Å"He and this Wolfsheim bought up a lot of side-street drug-stores here and in Chicago and sold grain alcohol over the counter. † (134). Though illegal at the time, it is hardly and immoral crime against foolish illegitimate laws. Truthful accusations are also made about truth telling, or lack thereof. Essentially, Gatsby lies in spite of his dreams. The faith he devotes to making Daisy a primary part of his life is the explanation behi nd his dedicated lies.The whole reason â€Å"he invented just the sort of Jay Gatsby that a seventeen-year-old boy would be likely to invent, (99) is to innocently stay loyal to Daisy, without harmful intentions. Gatsby's faults are that of depth-less incidents and should not be used against his nobleness. Gatsby's sense of hope towards his dream and pure optimism is really what separates him from everyday people. His unmistakable smile: â€Å"understood you just as far as you wanted to be understood, believed in you as you would like to believe in yourself, and assured you that it had precisely the impression of you that, at your best, you hoped to convey. (48). These feelings are brought to Nick with a simple, yet intriguing, flash of his grin. Originally, Gatsby's life begins as a poor man, in love with a woman born from old money, but his unmitigated belief allows him a fighting chance against social differences. Though, â€Å"he let her believe that he was a person from much the same stratum as herself- that he was fully able to take care of her. As a matter of fact, he had no such facilities-† (149) he enforced this security into his life mainly because he never yields to cynicism. Even after Mr.Gatsby passes, optimistic thoughts still roam throughout Nicks head; â€Å"Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgiastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that's no matter- tomorrow we will run faster, stretch our arms farther†¦ † (182). Gatsby's presence undoubtedly affects Mr. Carraways final thoughts of The Great Gatsby, substantiating his life changing positivity. In final analysis, the creation of Jay Gatsby makes him fitting to be labelled as ‘great'. Mainly, this dubbing is deserving because of his confidence he uses to make his vision a reality.Similarly, the ‘mistakes' he makes on this journey are not those of evil behaviour, only occurring because he is so absorbed in his own dream. N evertheless, greatness can be looked at as an illusion, which Gatsby significantly portrays as well. Finally, because his qualities in general are admired by most and held in high respect. Greatness is not usually looked for following a format; it can not specifically define who is and who is not, but when it is recognized it is commonly the simple things that distinguish it.