Ultra Magic

"But it is clear that all three of the critics' central premises are wrong. The Japanese did not see their situation as catastrophically hopeless. They were not seeking to surrender, but pursuing a negotiated end to the war that preserved the old order in Japan, not just a figurehead emperor. Finally, thanks to radio intelligence, American leaders, far from knowing that peace was at hand, understood--as one analytical piece in the 'Magic' Far East Summary stated in July 1945, after a review of both the military and diplomatic intercepts--that 'until the Japanese leaders realize that an invasion can not be repelled, there is little likelihood that they will accept any peace terms satisfactory to the Allies.' This cannot be improved upon as a succinct and accurate summary of the military and diplomatic realities of the summer of 1945."

In The Weekly Standard, Richard B. Frank explores the decision to drop the atomic bomb.