[IsTom]

In this world we've had an inocculation event against use of nukes. Two were dropped, people have seen how abhorrent their use is and collectively decided that they shouldn't be used.

If in the WW2 Japan also had nukes (and delivery systems for them) they'd probably have retaliated in kind and US wouldn't let that slide too and it would have continued for some time.

[RetroTechie]

In that case >2 nukes would have been dropped, both US and Japan would be hurting, people would have seen how abhorrent their use is and collectively decided that they shouldn't be used.

[tokioyoyo]

> In that case >2 nukes would have been dropped

This is a maybe. What we’ve seen so far, no two nuclear superpowers ever nuked each other, as they know both will suffer.

[margorczynski]

If WW2 Japan also had nukes the US would never drop those two. That's the whole idea behind MAD. Probably the only thing that stopped an open conflict between the US and USSR was them being nuclear powers and both sides being scared that eventually push comes to shove.

[IsTom]

MAD was thought of later and its theory requires that all parties know of each others' arsenal, think that their enemies aren't going to use them first and there being enough of weapons to make end quick and certain. I have hard time seeing WW2 generals who've seen horror and made horror coming to the conclusion that "they aren't going to use it unless we do, so let's not".