Bombs’ legacy wasn’t peace

Sun., April 18, 2010

The Spokesman-Review

Was anyone else disturbed by last Sunday’s “In Passing” reference to the atom bombs “that helped end World War II”?

The discussion about the role of the nuclear bombing of Japan in the Japanese surrender was 30 years ago. “Fat Man” and “Little Boy” actually extended the war because we rebuffed Japanese efforts to surrender in order that we would have time to use them. The evil genie was let out of the bottle, not to end the war, but to punish Japan, frighten the Soviet Union and, perhaps, to honor the scientists of the Manhattan Project.

If the media cannot acknowledge facts about 1945, how can we expect to know the truth about any of our continuing wars?

Rusty Nelson

Rockford

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