So Obama visits Hiroshima, doesn't apologize, but is accused by the right of apologizing anyway

[Snarky_Kong]

@Magiver

I’ve already cited that was his original desire. Pretending a visit to Hiroshima with a speech about how the dead want us to look inward and take stock of ourselves isn’t an apology is a complete denial of reality.

He did this knowing they didn’t want it and he did it right before Memorial day.

You know that nothing in your cite even comes close to showing that Obama wanted to apologize, right?

[Bag_of_Mostly_Water]

Everyone is missing the point of Obama’s visit and speech. The target was not the US or even Japan, but North Korea and possibly Iran, India and Pakistan. He makes it very clear that Japan, as the only country to have an atomic bomb used against it in war understands the power and terror of these weapons.

Obama makes it clear that North Korea needs to understand the genie they are bottling with their nuclear program. Once the genie is in the bottle, there is the possibility that it will be released.

The speech was not an apology, but a warning. This is the reason Japan agreed to host the ceremony – they wanted to send a clear message to North Korea.

[Sage_Rat]

@panache45

And I still can’t believe no other U.S. President has been there.

I’ve been there.

Granted, I’m not the President.

YET.

muahahah

[Raguleader]

@Sage_Rat

Granted, I’m not the President.

Or are you?

dun dun DUNNNN

[Qin_Shi_Huangdi]

@Stranger_On_A_Train

Jesus fucking hype over nothing. Can we just admit that nuclear weapons, like all indiscriminate weapons of mass destruction, are terrible devices we have invented and deployed out of desperation and (often) an unwillingness to sit down with our ideological opponents and negotiate a more moderate peace (or else confront directly and restrain, instead of letting them consume over half of central Europe), without being accused of being weak or conciliatory?

Do you think we should have negotiated with a peace with the Japanese Empire? If so, do you think we should have done the same with the Third Reich?

[davida03801]

@Stranger_On_A_Train

Jesus fucking hype over nothing. Can we just admit that nuclear weapons, like all indiscriminate weapons of mass destruction, are terrible devices we have invented and deployed out of desperation and (often) an unwillingness to sit down with our ideological opponents and negotiate a more moderate peace (or else confront directly and restrain, instead of letting them consume over half of central Europe), without being accused of being weak or conciliatory? Stranger

Just what moderate peace in 1943 do you think the Allies would have been willing to accept with Hitler ? As I recall the English with the “Peace in our Time” was a negotiation of sorts. Hitler did not bother to honor that. The Russians and Germany had a non aggression pact and Hitler ignored that one also.

The Allies knew once Stalingrad was over it would be a long slog to fight out to the finish but the tide turned to their side. Why would they accept anything less than a total victory at that point ?

I find your statement humorous beyond belief.

[Magiver]

@Snarky_Kong

You know that nothing in your cite even comes close to showing that Obama wanted to apologize, right?

You mean beyond the Japanese Government requesting him not to do it.

[Raguleader]

@Magiver

You mean beyond the Japanese Government requesting him not to do it.

Which says nothing about Obama’s intent. It only shows what the Japanese government might have thought his intent was. Or that they wanted to cover their bases and pre-emptively ask him not to do it.

If Donald Trump demands that Obama show his real birth certificate, it doesn’t mean that the one Obama already showed was fake, or that Obama is hiding his real birth certificate, it only means that Donald Trump demanded that Obama show his real birth certificate.

[Magiver]

@Raguleader

Which says nothing about Obama’s intent. It only shows what the Japanese government might have thought his intent was. Or that they wanted to cover their bases and pre-emptively ask him not to do it.

uh huh.

[Pylesos]

The US government should officially demand the Japanese emperor to visit Pearl Harbor and apologize for attacking the US. Now, from what I understand, accepting the apology in Japanese culture would mean that the matter is settled and put to rest, so the apology would have to be rejected ( and it should be made clear to the Japanese that it would be rejected beforehand ). Nevertheless, the demand must be made and the apology should be offered.

[Peremensoe]

@Magiver

I’ve already cited that was his original desire. Pretending a visit to Hiroshima with a speech about how the dead want us to look inward and take stock of ourselves isn’t an apology is a complete denial of reality.

He did this knowing they didn’t want it and he did it right before Memorial day.

So, if this was his meaning and desire, why do you think he “apologized” in a code that only some of his domestic political opponents could read?

[BobLibDem]

Christ. He didn’t fucking apologize. If you think he wanted to and didn’t, then you’re projecting. If Reagan did the exact same thing, conservatives would still be fawning over it.

[Robot_Arm]

@BobLibDem

If Reagan did the exact same thing, conservatives would still be fawning over it.

Like, for example, laying a wreath at a German military cemetery.

To be fair, conservatives aren’t exactly fawning over it. One might even think they’ve forgotten it completely.

[running_coach]

@Peremensoe

So, if this was his meaning and desire, why do you think he “apologized” in a code that only some of his domestic political opponents could read?

If Obama’s entire statement was nothing more than “Go to hell, all of you!!! You slant-eyed little fuckers deserved it!”, he would still be accused of apologizing.

[Magiver]

@Peremensoe

So, if this was his meaning and desire, why do you think he “apologized” in a code that only some of his domestic political opponents could read?

It’s not a code that only some some of his domestic political opponents could read.

[Peremensoe]

@Magiver

It’s not a code that only some some of his domestic political opponents could read.

OK, point us to the interpretation of someone not in that category.

[Magiver]

@Peremensoe

OK, point us to the interpretation of someone not in that category.

I already did. The Japanese diplomatic correspondence. His intentions were directly addressed by them.

[Robot_Arm]

@Magiver

I already did. The Japanese diplomatic correspondence. His intentions were directly addressed by them.

An article written a few days ago can only hint at Obama’s true motives. It’s messages from 7 years ago that provide the real proof.

[Count_Blucher]

@Magiver

I already did. The Japanese diplomatic correspondence. His intentions were directly addressed by them.

“Say, didn’t we break the Japanese code?”
“Not now, Crow.”
alert
“we’ve got movie sign!”

[Peremensoe]

@Magiver

I already did. The Japanese diplomatic correspondence. His intentions were directly addressed by them.

Seriously, that is the entirety of your argument? As Raguleader noted, your link makes no claims about his intentions, only about some Japanese’ anticipation of possibilities. Except, of course, for the part where the White House spokesman says, “there was never any plan for the president to apologize.” Is that a lie? Is there a conspiracy to cover up Obama’s plan to make a secret coded apology?

If Obama wanted to apologize, why would he avoid using any of the words that people recognize as indicating an apology?