I wasn't aware there was any 'horseplay' (havent heard that word in a while) over Japanese chronology. I can't even remember what the argument was about now. Yes, the fear of Russia entering Japanese populated area was a big issue - probably worse than having America enter. Japan would have become a Communist nation.
True. When will the world start to put the Kurds at the top of the list ? Rather than the Palestinian Bedouins...