Orphan Nagasaki, by Harvey Wasserman, The Free Press

[nofurylike]

Orphan Nagasaki
by Harvey Wasserman
August 9, 2005
http://www.freepress.org/columns/display/7/2005/1182

Like Nagasaki, August 9 is an orphan of history.

And in that history, new, definitive evidence has finally surfaced that the atomic bombing there was completely unjustified.

More than 80,000 human beings perished in Nagasaki three days after at least that many died in Hiroshima.

The Bomb that destroyed this historic city was made of plutonium (Hiroshima's was uranium).

Whatever the case for nuking Hiroshima, it was far weaker for Nagasaki.

The US had already shown it had this ultimate weapon. It showed it was willing to use it. And it now had time to wait for the Japanese to gather themselves and surrender, which so many believe they were trying to do.

Lingering doubts about Hiroshima and Nagasaki have only multiplied over six decades. Statements from American strategists include one to the effect that the first bomb showed we had it and were willing to use it, while the second showed we were willing to use it irrationally.

-snip-

The immediate American rationale for using the Bomb was that it would avoid the need for a land invasion of Japan. The much-publicized estimated cost of a million American lives was at best a guess, based on no hard numbers.

In any event, the US was in no position to invade at least until November. With the Russians coming from the east, Japan faced an inescapable vice.

-snip-

In Hiroshima, and then Nagasaki, humans were vaporized and irradiated primarily because the US had the technology to do it.

Three decades later, the Nagasaki anniversary finally acquired a happier aspect. On August 9, 1974, Richard Nixon's resignation became effective at noon. He had wanted to nuke Vietnam, but wrote in his autobiography that he feared the power of the anti-war movement, which eventually helped bring him down.

Perhaps that's the best way to balance the place of August 9 in our historic memory.

The gratuitous bombing of Nagasaki is the only blot on our national soul that could exceed the one from Hiroshima. But the forced departure of a man who was only barely stopped from repeating the nuclear horror has helped at least to begin the day's redemption.

So let's celebrate at least that much about August 9. And lets hope that by this time next year, George W. Bush will have followed in Nixon's footsteps.

***

from The Free Press website:

HARVEY WASSERMAN'S HISTORY OF THE US is available via www.harveywasserman.com , along with A GLIMPSE OF THE BIG LIGHT: LOSING PARENTS, FINDING SPIRIT, and the upcoming SOLARTOPIA. He is co-editor, with Bob Fitrakis, of DID GEORGE W. BUSH STEAL AMERICA'S 2004 ELECTION? (www.freepress.org).
***

[nofurylike]

1. must be off. kick. important article! eom

[Moderator]

2. nofurylike

Per DU copyright rules
please post only four
paragraphs from the
copyrighted news source.



Thank you.


DU Moderator

[nofurylike]

3. thank you for the reminder. i apologize for not reading the rules more

carefully.

it's too late to edit this - and my similarly erroneous post in LBN last night (sorry!). is it possible for you to cut it? or should you delete it and me re-post it?

i will go read the rules in detail now.

and i will make sure i cut it correctly next time.


thank you for all you do!


peace!

[bpilgrim]

4. kick

thanks for sharing nofurylike :hi:

peace

[Lydia Leftcoast]

5. One reason that Nagasaki was not as badly damaged as Hiroshima was

its hilly terrain. The bomb was relatively small and primitive compared to the ones available today, so that the "shadow" of the hills provided some protection. A modern bomb would have simply flattened the hills.

I recommend visiting Nagasaki. It's a historic city, the only city open to foreigners during the 250-year period of isolation, in a lovely setting, with remarkably friendly people.