Donations cover 70% of our operating costs and keep In These Times in print. Please join our community of donors today.

5 Minutes to Nuclear Midnight

By Frida Berrigan

Sixty-three years ago this week, the United States was the first (and last, so far) nation to use nuclear weapons in war, detonating two warheads in the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan. Tens of thousands were killed instantly by the explosions and by the end of 1945 more than 200,000 had died from radiation sickness and other bomb-related ailments.… return to article

  • subscribe to print magazine

  • Zoom OutZoom In Reader Comments (6)

    Page 1 of 1 pages

    How’s this for bad news?

    The United States is committing a war crime every time a soldier uses a depleted uranium bomb or bullet.

    The cumulative war crimes are uncountable (the criminals too).

    Canada Posted by Jiminy Cricket on Aug 7, 2008 at 11:07 PM

    NEWS FLASH!

    War is not a gentleman’s game (When they say, “After you.” )
    They aren’t being polite.

    It’s about survival.

    United States Posted by whattheheck on Aug 12, 2008 at 9:41 AM

    So that makes it all right?

    Nice attitude you have there, Whatthheck ... It’s war, after all, dear chap, people die all the time, nothing to get worked up about.

    Good luck surviving.

    Canada Posted by Jiminy Cricket on Aug 12, 2008 at 10:33 PM

    My point is no one has ever been able to prevent the use of any new weapons technology. Not gunpowder, not machine guns, not nukes.

    And no one in his right mind trusts his enemy — or he’s toast.

    Realizing what is so is not condoning, just facing reality.

    If an armed gunman breaks into your house and you are alos armed would you say, “I put down my gun if you will,”?

    I would just shoot.

    United States Posted by whattheheck on Aug 13, 2008 at 1:28 PM

    The ol’ “gunman burglar” argument is a tricky one:

    Sure, I guess I might shoot.  But one should also consider what they can do to keep themselves from being in a situation where they have to make a kill or be killed decision.

    The point of this article is to show that, unless things change quickly, the probability of someone using nukes remains dangerously high.  But, if the international community works together, we can greatly reduce that risk.

    If you have a neighborhood watch, know who your neighbors really are, don’t flaunt your wealth, don’t leave guns and arms lying around your house and, if you feel the need, have a good lock on your door, the chances of you finding an armed gunman (as redundant as that is ;) ) in front of you is fairly slim.

    And it’s not easy, what with long work hours and everyone fighting just to keep their own families safe and satisfied, and the ever rising cost of gun locks, it’s hard to make time to work with neighbors and look after more than their own immediate self interests.  But it’s worth it.

    Extrapolate the idea to the level of nation states and, while more complicated, the moral of the story is essentially the same:

    Nations must work together for our collective safety.  whattheheck is right that there’s no perfect answer, but we must do all in our power to reduce the risk of nuclear weapons and materials ever being used to take human life again.

    United States Posted by PEPAndy on Aug 15, 2008 at 11:59 AM

    PEPAndy,

    Since the fall of the Soviet Union and the undisclosed (unknown?) status of their inventory the problem is far different than during the MAD strategy days.

    The control is no longer in the hands of nations which can negotiate to prevent their use. It is the radical religious nuts who not only don’t care if they die, but want to.

    Bringing that down to neighborhoods — the druggie desparate for a fix may not be to willing to negociate either.  We have had increasing breakins in our neighborhood and drug gang related shootings are up. Our house was broken into and he fled out the back door when he heard the garage door go up. My neighbor saw him running across his yard. When he was caught three months later he was armed and was on drugs.

    I’ll just shoot first if able.

    United States Posted by whattheheck on Aug 16, 2008 at 1:17 PM
    Page 1 of 1 pages

  • register a new account »Posting Security

    To participate in our forums, please register for a free account.
     

    Retreive lost password »

Also by Frida Berrigan
Popular Discussions