Truman Defense Policy Analysis

“The defense policy of the United States is based on a simple premise: The United States does not start fights. We will never be an aggressor. We maintain our strength in order to deter and defend against aggression -- to preserve freedom and peace. Since the dawn of the atomic age, we've sought to reduce the risk of war by maintaining a strong deterrent and by seeking genuine arms control. ‘Deterrence’ means simply this: making sure any adversary who thinks about attacking the United States, or our allies, or our vital interests, concludes that the risks to him outweigh any potential gains. Once he understands that, he won't attack. We maintain the peace through our strength; weakness only invites aggression.” (Reagan) During World War 2,

There was said to have been close to 300,000 people killed during the bomb droppings as a whole. People died directly and indirectly from both bomb effects by, too severe burns, radiation sickness, and cancer. There was no consideration for the thousands of Japanese people who happened to be in the wrong city at the wrong time. “We have used it in order to shorten the agony of war, in order to save the lives of thousands of young Americans.” (Truman) Truman refused to accept a peace offering due to lack of an unconditional surrender and even when Japan surrendered before the bombs were actually dropped, it was rejected as well. When the bombs succeeded, Harry S. Truman was very pleased and began to change his demeanor. The bomb allowed Truman to become the aggressor. He no longer wanted to wait for confrontation, he wanted it, Truman switch from pro-Soviet advisors to anti-communist advisors. “President Truman indicates that the US will not recognize future communist governments, since ‘I'm sick of babying the Soviets.’” (academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu) Truman’s actions with the power he was beginning to hold provoked Stalin which drove the United States and NATO allies into the battle with the Soviet Union and their Warsaw Pact allies. As a result of the Cold War, the Soviet Union fell to the United States in 1991. “In the last couple years of the Reagan administration, Reagan would propose extravagant measures in arms reductions. His hawkish aides would go along with them, thinking the Soviets would reject them (and the United States would win a propaganda victory). Then, to the surprise of everyone (except perhaps Reagan, who meant the proposals without cynicism), Gorbachev would accept them. In the end, Reagan and Gorbachev needed each other.” (Kaplan) In all reality, the growth in both economies needed each others support during that