I usually agree with Mr. Pitts’ editorials. Not this time. It’s inconsistent to the point of contradiction. Japanese war crimes don’t absolve the US of repenting for committing the worst terrorist act in human history.

By Pitts’ so-called ‘logic’ the only reason the Japanese should have apologized for their own war crimes–including the very ones Pitts offers as “justification” for the US' refusal to apologize–is because they lost the war. Such logic deprives apology of any point whatsoever.  A coerced apology isn't one.

Does winning the war mean never having to say you’re sorry? Doubtless the Axis powers would have thought so, had they won. But this wouldn’t have absolved them of their war crimes and it doesn’t absolve us of ours.

Hiroshima and Nagasaki were merely the coup d’etat. The US had already firebombed 60 Japanese cities and incinerated 30-60% of the CIVILIAN populations of those cities. This wasn’t about “saving lives”. It was revenge.

Forgiveness requires repentance.