2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting, if a bit morally flawed, December 30, 2010
This review is from: A Trial of Generals: Homma, Yamashita, Macarthur (Hardcover)
From the 20/20 of hindsight, it appears that the trials of General Homma and Yamashita were unjust "kangaroo" courts of military justice. I think it is an unfair reading of history. While certainly these generals did not have the same civil rights of United States citizens and were subject to questionable legal treatment, I think the outcome WAS JUST and as loyal military men, these generals knew it. They had presided over the troops responsible for one of history's greatest military crimes. While they did not directly participate in the brutal rape, murder and pillaging, it is doubtful that they were completely blind to it nor powerless to stop it. The buck stops at the top. They paid the price.
How was MacArthur to dispense justice after the war? Gather up the entire Japanese Army and execute them? Symbolic execution of justice was the only rational choice for a war torn nation, trying to rebuild.
History will be kind on those who uphold humanity.
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