# A-bombs vs. firebombing of Tokyo

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bombs-vs-firebombing-of-tokyo/755893>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [May 28, 2016, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bombs-vs-firebombing-of-tokyo/755893 "2016-05-28T15:22:43Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 63

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**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\
**Post date:** [June 1, 2016, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-bombs-vs-firebombing-of-tokyo/755893/63 "2016-06-01T20:30:10Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> Yes. And does that frame of reference make a distinction between the firebombing of Tokyo and the dropping of the A-bomb?

You’re really going to make me type again on this silly phone for such an argument?

Let’s review: you said

> [@wood of the true cross?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wood-of-the-true-cross/6578/18):
>
> There are no moral arguments that can be made against either the A-bombs or the firebombing of Tokyo as long as your moral frame of reference is congruent to the one that existed during WWII.

So by saying either, you _effectively_ said “there are no moral arguments against the A-bomb” AND  
“there are no moral arguments against the firebombing of Tokyo” in the frame of reference during WWII.

I pointed out that moral arguments against area bombing (by definition, both firebombing and atomic bombing are area bombing) were advanced by numerous people during the war itself.

Your comeback, trying to define some difference between atomic and firebombing, is classic moving the goalposts. I specifically refuted what you said.

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