So, a long chain of missing-the-points: on the Daily Show, Jon Stewart first comes out against the dropping of the atomic bombs on Japan, then later backs out of that point, and then at Instapundit they point to a claimed evisceration of even the slightest idea that Hiroshima and Nagasaki could have been big mistakes.

But, a quick three-step argument that the choice to use the bomb was a big mistake:

1) The atomic bombs cause a big explosion, indiscriminately destroying a wide area. (I guess that part is not so controversial?)

2) There were lots of civilians in that area. (Agreed?)

3) The military shouldn’t aim to win by indiscriminately killing civilians. (I wish that wasn’t controversial. But it’s the way it should be.)

Ergo, the decision to drop was wrong.