Two Fateful Bombings in August 1945

By: Joe Mauricio

 

The most powerful bombs were dropped in Japan 74 years ago that ended the Second World War with Japan. The first bomb was dropped on August 6, 1945 in Hiroshima and the second bomb was dropped on August 9, 1945 in Nagasaki.

The “official line” has been that the Japanese would resist frantically any invasion of the country with high U.S. casualties, as a result. However, a report issued by the U.S. Strategic Bombing Survey in in 1946 concluded, “Certainly, prior to December 3, 2946 and probably prior to November 1, 1945, Japan would have surrendered even if the atomic bombs had not been dropped, even if Russia had not entered the war, and if no invasion had been planned.

The Japanese were beaten. Japan had no Navy left, no mighty zeros flying, and the Japanese Army demoralized. The Japanese had sent peace feelers through three channels. U.S. President Truman was aware of these facts. Yet, the bombs were dropped. One of the reasons for this savagery must have been the impetus to use the weapon that had never really been used against “live people.” Most likely, the bomb was dropped in the first shot of the Cold War to impress the Soviet Union that U.S. would run the post-war world.

What scenario one accepts–a terrorist bombing of (live people) civilians to force the Japanese government to peace term, a slaughter to make a political point the bombings were a war crime, no less so than the Japanese butchery in Nanking, China. The use of barbarous weapon at Hiroshima and Nagasaki was no material assistance in our war against Japan.

In being the first to use it, we adapted an ethical standard common to the barbarians of the dark ages.

Clearly, at least some scientific communities were opposed to this monstrous weapon. Since their public debut on August 6, 1945, nuclear weapons and their potential effects have been a recurring motive in popular culture to the extent that the decades of the Cold War are often referred as the Atomic Age. The atom bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki ushered in the Atomic Age. Nuclear weapon became synonymous with Apocalypse, and, as a symbol, this resonated through culture of nations with the freedom of the press.

And so, why are some countries with nuclear bombs are flaunting to use it, if attacked? Please, don’t play demigods, and save our planet — the only one we got.##