&gt; is more analogous to the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki<p>Japan was a Great Power in WW2, very nearly a match for the US. It was also aggressively building an expire of it&#x27;s own - whose own actions, particularly against rebels in China, were far closer to the actions of the Galactic Empire than the US.<p>There is an intrinsic difference between attacking a mortal enemy that is your near equal during a period of Total War than suppressing dissent and rebellion against ragtag rebels by killing millions of civilians, which Japan most certainly did.<p>In WW2, America was the great friend the rebels in Star Wars never had.