Hiroshima - 60 Years Ago Today

€uroMeinke · 08-06-2005, 11:31 AM

60 years ago, the first nuclear wepon was used in combat. It seems remarkable that livng through the cold war, with fallout shelters, duck and cover drills, we've somehow manged to get this far without using more.

When the cold war ended, there was a sense that we somehow avoided the fate of seeing such weopens used against us. Now there is a war on terrorism, and the technology proliferates among nation states that seem far more threatening in their instability than the Soviet Union ever did.

How much longer do you think our luck will hold out? How well do we remember just how devestating a small bomb, like the one dropped on Hiroshima, really can be?

Boss Radio · 08-06-2005, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by €uroMeinke

60 years ago, the first nuclear wepon was used in combat. It seems remarkable that livng through the cold war, with fallout shelters, duck and cover drills, we've somehow manged to get this far without using more.

When the cold war ended, there was a sense that we somehow avoided the fate of seeing such weopens used against us. Now there is a war on terrorism, and the technology proliferates among nation states that seem far more threatening in their instability than the Soviet Union ever did.

How much longer do you think our luck will hold out? How well do we remember just how devestating a small bomb, like the one dropped on Hiroshima, really can be?

I think it's only a matter of time before we see some kind of catastrophic event. Hopefully, we won't be on the receiving end when it happens.

If only we could could harness the awesome power of the atom for good instead of evil...like Adventure Thru Inner Space taught us.

As far as Hiroshima goes, there was an upside: Godzilla.

scaeagles · 08-06-2005, 01:08 PM

The cold war was successful with the "mutually assured destruction" strategy employed by both sides. They didn't want to die, we didn't want to die. The brand of Islamofacist terrorists we see, though, don't have the same philosophy.

While the North Koreans talk tough, they don't want to be obilterated. While the Chinese have been rattling pretty loudly lately regarding Taiwan, they don't want to be obliterated either.

I see no practical deterrant against this. I don't really think the OP is intending we go into the politics of today, but the only solution I can see is to have every state that either sponsors or harbors terrorists - the Syrias, the Irans, whomever - eventually overthrown, as was done in Afghanistan.

We will ever be truly safe? No. Always some nutjob like Osama who will want to do harm, whether state sponsored or not.

08-06-2005, 11:31 AM	#1
€uroMeinke L'Hédoniste Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: A.S.C.O.T. Posts: 8,671	Hiroshima - 60 Years Ago Today 60 years ago, the first nuclear wepon was used in combat. It seems remarkable that livng through the cold war, with fallout shelters, duck and cover drills, we've somehow manged to get this far without using more. When the cold war ended, there was a sense that we somehow avoided the fate of seeing such weopens used against us. Now there is a war on terrorism, and the technology proliferates among nation states that seem far more threatening in their instability than the Soviet Union ever did. How much longer do you think our luck will hold out? How well do we remember just how devestating a small bomb, like the one dropped on Hiroshima, really can be? __________________ I would believe only in a God that knows how to Dance. Friedrich Nietzsche
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08-06-2005, 01:08 PM	#3
scaeagles I LIKE! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 7,819	The cold war was successful with the "mutually assured destruction" strategy employed by both sides. They didn't want to die, we didn't want to die. The brand of Islamofacist terrorists we see, though, don't have the same philosophy. While the North Koreans talk tough, they don't want to be obilterated. While the Chinese have been rattling pretty loudly lately regarding Taiwan, they don't want to be obliterated either. I see no practical deterrant against this. I don't really think the OP is intending we go into the politics of today, but the only solution I can see is to have every state that either sponsors or harbors terrorists - the Syrias, the Irans, whomever - eventually overthrown, as was done in Afghanistan. We will ever be truly safe? No. Always some nutjob like Osama who will want to do harm, whether state sponsored or not.
	Submit to Quotes