https://archive.is/vt6mi

the US struck a secret agreement with Ishii. In a memo to General Douglas MacArthur (1880 – 1964), commander of Allied forces in Japan, Washington recognized that although war crimes had been committed, the experiments led by Ishii and his colleagues were “almost incalculable and incredibly valuable to the United States.”

In exchange for the records of Unit 731’s experiments, the US granted Ishii and his assistants immunity. Ishii died, and his collaborators went on to have careers in prestigious universities and private laboratories.

  • MTK@lemmy.world
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    8 days ago

    I guess it’s easy to say behind a keyboard, but still feels fucked up, was that really the lesser evil?

    • Captain Poofter@lemmy.world
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      8 days ago

      if we didn’t get that information, more people would have died. “justice” may have missed out, but justice doesn’t save any lives in this scenario. it’s a super fucked up situation, but i do believe getting that information was the best possible outcome. at least some good came from the suffering of the victims this way. it’s a hard pill to swallow, but nature is a bitch, we’re all only animals, and there is no god.

        • Captain Poofter@lemmy.world
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          7 days ago

          it is not direct lives, so there is no source. we learned information such as the exact temperature a human body dies when frozen, and things that advanced organ sciences and transplants. there’s simply no way to calculate the lives we’ve saved or improved from obtaining the information because it is so far reaching.

      • ExLisper@lemmy.curiana.net
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        7 days ago

        Don’t kid yourself. They gave him immunity because they didn’t care. It’s not like US never experimented on people. Or enslaved them. Or committed genocides. Or you know, dropped couple of atomic bombs on civilians just to see what will happen.

        "- This guy says he has some info but want’s immunity.

        • Sure, why not? It’s not like he did anything we wouldn’t do."
        • Captain Poofter@lemmy.world
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          7 days ago

          I’m not kidding anyone, I’m specifically saying the information was valuable enough to give them what they wanted. that’s all

          • ExLisper@lemmy.curiana.net
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            6 days ago

            Was the information valuable enough to torture people in order to obtain it? Do you think value of this information justifies what the Japanese did to these people?

            • Captain Poofter@lemmy.world
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              6 days ago

              now you’re just going in outlandish directions. if you don’t have the nuance to distinguish between not letting lives go to waste and murder, then have a good day.

              • ExLisper@lemmy.curiana.net
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                6 days ago

                Oh, so you actually went straight for “not letting lives go to waste”. Nice.

                For me using data obtained by murdering people is 100% morally wrong. It means that as long as you can distance yourself from the murdering itself you’re free to benefit from it. Which is a disgusting take.

                And US not only used this data, they actually made an exchange for it. They didn’t just find it somewhere ans said “well, since we already have it…”. They made a deal with the murderers. Even more disgusting.

                • Captain Poofter@lemmy.world
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                  6 days ago

                  so everyone who is alive now BECAUSE of all that information doesn’t deserve their life because of your ethical standards? we can agree to disagree.

                  i am a carnivore. i eat flesh. i have zero disillusionment about what life and it’s atrocities actually are. enjoy your high horse, I won’t be responding to you anymore.

                  edit: did you know particle board was invented by the nazis? ever buy any build it yourself furniture? better throw it out. ever drink a fanta soda?

                  • ExLisper@lemmy.curiana.net
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                    5 days ago

                    so everyone who is alive now BECAUSE of all that information doesn’t deserve their life because of your ethical standards?

                    Where did you take this from? There’s zero logic here.

                    What I’m saying is that if I would find a paper describing cure for cancer but I knew the author brutally murdered thousands of people in order to create it I wouldn’t use it. I think using it would validate his methods and would be immoral.

                    Imagine someone would torture and murder your family in order to create covid vaccine. Would you still take it? Would you let the murder go free in exchange for his research?

                    edit: did you know particle board was invented by the nazis? ever buy any build it yourself furniture? better throw it out. ever drink a fanta soda?

                    Did they murder people to create it? If not what the fuck are you talking about?