Ryan Ginstrom wrote:

> > I will believe the members of the general public who say they did not
> know, or
> > were not allowed to know. Leaders were fools.
>
> Anyone with a brain certainly realized what the newspaper reports of great
> victories drawing ever closer to Japan meant. Most probably also realized
> they were far outmatched by the US; yet popular opinion was heavily in favor
> of going to war.

Then the old people I have known who say the Emperor's radio broadcast was a
surprise or that they were misled (heaven forbid they considered mass suicide)
perhaps lack(ed) more than half a brain. Strangely enough it has not
handicapped them in the ensuing years as they worked or raised families.

Propaganda works wonders. Perhaps millions of Americans believed the Mideast
situation would be simpler, cleaner and not as costly, or that the locals would
welcome their liberators.

> Because anyone alive today is highly unlikely to have been old enough to
> occupy a post of any significance in Japan's government.

By in modern times, I do not necessarily mean they are alive right now, or
still in their *postwar* posts if still alive. But indeed, former members of
Unit 731 did later hold influential posts in the academic or medical field, as
they were not prosecuted in exchange for the information they gathered
performing their human experiments. Some of the men sent to be part of Unit 731
were the elite. Have you read stories or books such as _Unit 731: Testimony_ by
Hal Gold, based on firsthand accounts of former members or soldiers? They seem
to be milder versions or accounts, things that some people speak about at
public gatherings.

So people or organizations sitting on war booty such as national treasures or
gold today, or others who have benefited from the war are not responsible?

--
 "I'm on top of the world right now, because everyone's going to know that I
can shove more than three burgers in my mouth!"