Of Mushroom Clouds, Hiroshima and Princess Ferragamo - August 6th

Today is 62 years since the US dropped the first atomic weapon ("Little Boy") used in warfare on Hiroshima. With no response from the Japanese government, the US dropped another bomb ("Fat Man") on Nagasaki three days later.



The Japanese surrendered on August 15th (V-J Day) and the end of war was officially signed September 2, 1945 aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay.

Truman decided to drop the bomb rather than go for all the all out invasion of Japan and the hundreds of thousands of American (and Japanese) deaths that would ensue from this battle.

Of course Truman's decision forever changed the planet. And the attack and aftermath has been chronicled hundreds of times in books, movies, memorials and other means.

While Hiroshima has rebuilt, and the Japanese have prospered, the anniversary of this day reminds us that the psychological damage remains. More nations have bombs -- France, Britain, China, Russia, Pakistan, India - that we KNOW of. Others like Iran, Israel, South Africa (with a mysterious explosion in 1979), North Korea may have or would like to have. It is a dangerous "toy." We should and are required to never forget what this all means -- and how it could all end up.







It also another very somber anniversary. One that if notice was taken may have prevented another anniversary from happening in 36 days.

August 6 is the six-year anniversary of the Presidential Daily Briefing (PDB) entitled "Bin Laden Determined to Strike in US." See Harriet show George.



Special thanks to Blue Gal for reminding me (and us) of this shameful day in American Presidential history

http://bgalrstate.blogspot.com/

Just think of how different we would be if Bush and Condi had heeded the warning and not been SO dismissive:

from the testimony at the 9/11 commission

RICE: You said, did it not warn of attacks. It did not warn of attacks inside the United States. It was historical information based on old reporting. There was no new threat information. And it did not, in fact, warn of any coming attacks inside the United States.

yes Condi, who'd a thought they would crash planes into buildings or that a smoking gun would be a mushroom cloud or whatever fucking other nonsense pours out of that mouth of yours.

just think -- they were re-elected and promoted after leaving another "mushroom cloud" on the planet on August 6.

August 6 - a day that does live in infamy