The Lessons of Hiroshima, 80 Years Later

There was an alternate plan available, that might have saved many lives. Members of the Manhattan Project wrote a letter to Truman, suggesting he invite the Japanese to witness the first test of the atomic bomb. Communist J. Robert Oppenheimer refused to approve it, so the letter was never sent. Much of the blame is on him.

Excellent, sober piece, Lawrence Kadish.

Truman let it be known that it was his decision and his decision alone. This was vintage Harry Truman - he didn't pass the buck. I agree with his decision. He knew that the atomic bombs would accomplish 2 things: 1) it would shock the Japanese into surrendering, and 2) it would save American lives. This was back in the days when the United States went to war to win, rather than just occupy countries.

Now Trump must drop atomic bombs on the murderous regime in Iran.

Upon becoming president, Harry Truman learned of the Manhattan Project, a secret scientific effort to create an atomic bomb. After a successful test of the weapon, Truman issued the Potsdam Declaration demanding the unconditional surrender of the Japanese government, warning of "prompt and utter destruction." Eleven days later, on August 6, 1945, having received no reply, an American bomber called the Enola Gay left the Tinian Island in route toward Japan. In the belly of the bomber was "Little Boy," an atomic bomb. At 8:15 am Hiroshima time, "Little Boy" was dropped. The result was approximately 80,000 deaths in just the first few minutes. Thousands died later from radiation sickness. On August 9, 1945, another bomber was in route to Japan, only this time they were heading for Nagasaki with "Fat Man," another atomic bomb. After the first minute of dropping "Fat Man," 39,000 men, women and children were killed. 25,000 more were injured. Both cities were leveled from the bombs and this, in turn, forced Japan to surrender to the United States. The war was finally over.

An important lesson in history by Lawrence Kadish. Please read and share. America must continue to lead the world and set an example for all peace-loving nations.

Thank you for being a voice of reason and moral clarity.

Truman was a brave president and real leader.

The atomic bombs shocked Japan and sent a powerful message to the world: America will not allow anyone to humiliate it.

Thank you for another well-written and well-articulated article on an important anniversary.

Interesting. The atomic bombs and invasion were not mutually exclusive alternatives. The invasion would have begun in early 1946, because that is how long, at a rate of one bomb every 3 weeks, it would take the Americans to build the nine atomic bombs they planned to drop on Kyushu as their opening salvo. And that's just the start. The USA would not mount the largest invasion in history without its most powerful weapon.

I don't understand why the debate is ongoing 80 years later. America did what it had to do. The world became a safe place for many decades after WWII.

Splendid. Bravo, Mr Kadish.

Without the use of atomic bombs the US and its allies would have lost the war.

Awesome. Thank you sir for posting this article.

Lovely piece by Lawrence Kadish on the sad anniversary of the US nuclear attack that forced Japan to its knees.

Thank you Mr Kadish for speaking the truth and presenting an accurate description of the reality. You are a true American patriot.

That was the only way to halt the bloodletting back then. The US did the right thing and we have nothing to be ashamed of. God bless America, God bless Lawrence Kadish.

Excellent piece on the 80th anniversary of Hiroshima/Nagasaki. I love reading your stuff here. Thank you.

Mr Kadish is absolutely right. We must remember the nuclear bombings for what they prevented rather than what they tragically caused.

A great lesson in history presented by Lawrence Kadish. Thank you sir for your leadership.

I agree with Mr Kadish. The nuclear weapons were necessary to stop the war. Yes, it came with a heavy price, but it prevented more bloodshed.

Must-Read by Lawrence Kadish on one of the bloodiest and most violent chapters in US history. In retrospective, we all know President Truman did the right thing. He saved the lives of millions.

Wonderful article by Lawrence Kadish on the 80th anniversary of the use of nuclear weapons during World War II.

What was prevented was the death of millions of Americans and non Americans.

The other thing rarely mentioned is that if the power of nukes had not been demonstrated to end the war with Japan, then thermonuclear weapons almost certainly would have been utilized in exponentially more destructive and catastrophic ways in subsequent conflicts, eg; Korea...not to mention, the USSR might have been far more aggressive militarily in Europe or elsewhere without the cautionary lessons of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Hundreds of thousands of people would have died were it not for President Truman's bold decision to drop nuclear bombs on the Japanese cities. This is the lesson from the use of nuclear weapons. Many thanks to Mr Kadish for another brilliant piece.

Magnificent piece by Lawrence Kadish on the use of nuclear weapons and the debate surrounding its morality. As Mr Kadish notes, "the debate continues to this day as to the morality of using nuclear weapons, with critics citing the enormous human cost. What they consistently fail to tally is the cost of not using atomic bombs to end the conflict."

President Truman made the right decision. There was no other way back then to end the war.

Great piece on the 80th anniversary of the use of nuclear weapons, a wise move that ended WW II. Thank you Mr Kadish for reminding us of this historical and dramatic event.

Think of the generations that would have been lost without using the bomb. Many are alive today that would never have been born. This includes an innumerable number of people that protest to this day the use of the bomb.