We have a lasting alliance with Japan after nuking two of their cities and firebombing more.
Valid point, however I may submit the point that the political landscape of East Asia (in regards to possible involvement of Sovjets in the Pacific, the rise of Communism and Maoism in East Asia) might account for some of the groundwork laid after the war... (and quietly persists into the present?)
EDIT: Is it just me or did Battuta just take the very cavalier "it worked out in the end"-attitude for one most horrific things* humans have ever done to each other?
*EDIT3: Just to clarify, I don't mean to deny the crimes committed in the name of the Empire of Japan nor do I seek to invalidate the "stop the war now, to save the lives of those who fight and be caught in continuing war"-rationale; All I want propse is that there is a tier of events in recorded human history of singular horrific quality that they should not be repeated, emmulated or serve a guidepost for furture course of action, unless said course of actions is to NOT DO IT AGAIN.
EDIT2: Maybe I should rephrase the basis for the though experiment then (italtics for the added conditions):
Can you provide plausible theory how the T-V war could have gone from the escalation which followed after the bombing of a civilian target with the weapon of mass destruction, and then arrive at a lasting peace (even if said peace was enforced through
abstact fear of a common enemy),
if the attacked had the capability of an retaliatory strike with equal weapons?