I was hoping to provide an indirect nudge there - if emulation is not optimal then escalation is simply bad. :cP I could have been more direct - one should always be classy in one's communications (and name-calling (and worse) is not classy).

I personally think that there were interests at play wishing to see the A-bomb used in a real world situation - and that such eagerness smothered and over-ruled any attempts by Japan to opt-out, not once but twice.

The first bomb could easily have been dropped in a less populated area as a warning - if one were trying to be humane about it. Instead 'valuable data' was collected on the A-bombs effects upon population centers.

Of course - it is possible that Russia simply wasn't passing on Japan's mediation efforts (they did move fast) - and that the US dropped the bombs blind to Japan's efforts, rather than in spite of them.

You make a very good point about the effect of post-war political interference upon Japan. That should have been obvious to me but you put me back in the picture. Fortunately it has worked out well for Japan.

Also - 100% agreed with your final statement. A consideration indeed.