It most likely had a lot to do with the decision to use the bomb on Japan, as well.
This wasn't the logic in play at the time of the bombing. Japan had attacked the US, the US was responding, the campaign to hop from island to island in the Pacific was extremely bloody and costly with the Japanese fighting to the man and running suicide attacks. Based on the tactics in play, it was believed that the nuclear strike would actually kill fewer people overall (even on both sides) than continuing the battle as it was being fought.
Whether or not they were right is beyond my expertise but Japan was already at full scale war with the US and the idea was to use a display of overwhelming force to get the fighting to stop, not to eradicate an enemy before they had the first chance to attack.
I just pulled this from the page
This wasn't the logic in play at the time of the bombing. Japan had attacked the US, the US was responding, the campaign to hop from island to island in the Pacific was extremely bloody and costly with the Japanese fighting to the man and running suicide attacks. Based on the tactics in play, it was believed that the nuclear strike would actually kill fewer people overall (even on both sides) than continuing the battle as it was being fought.
Whether or not they were right is beyond my expertise but Japan was already at full scale war with the US and the idea was to use a display of overwhelming force to get the fighting to stop, not to eradicate an enemy before they had the first chance to attack.