entry 0999

60 years ago today, the United States of America launched the first of two unprecedented acts of terrorism against the civilian population of Japan.

Evidence has shown over the years that these attacks were launched not to end the war against Japan. The strikes served as a scientific test of new weapons of mass destruction, atomic bombs, in actual use against populated urban areas and also as a show of strength towards the Soviet Union, the opening salvo to the decades-long Cold War.

Hiroshima (on this day) and Nagasaki (three days later) were devastated. Kyoto had originally been one of the targets under consideration, but it was spared due to the outrage that the destruction of such a historic site.

The persons responsible for the attacks were never brought to justice, and to this day the incidents are taught in the accepted history as regrettable but necessary measures which were the only acceptable way to end "the war to end all wars."

A couple of links:

New Scientist: Hiroshima bomb may have carried hidden agenda

Baltimore Sun: The Hiroshima cover-up, an op-ed piece by Amy Goodman and David Goodman [alternate link]