64 years ago today

[Little-Acorn]

64 years ago today, on July 16, 1945, the first atomic explosion on earth was triggered at the Trinity test site near Alamagordo, New Mexico. A plutonium implosion bomb created an explosion equivalent to 20,000 tons of TNT.

Three weeks later, a uranium slug-gun bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, killing more than 60,000 people. Three days after that, another plutonium implosion bomb was flown over it primary target of Kokura, Japan. But the weather over the target was poor, so the plane diverted to its assigned alternate target of Nagasaki, Japan, and dropped the bomb there, where more than 40,000 people died.

Japan surrendered a week later, cancelling the planned U.S. invasion and conquest of the Japanese mainland and averting a projected 500,000+ U.S. and 1,000,000+ Japanese casualties.

[Insein]

64 years ago today, on July 16, 1945, the first atomic explosion on earth was triggered at the Trinity test site near Alamagordo, New Mexico. A plutonium implosion bomb created an explosion equivalent to 20,000 tons of TNT.

Three weeks later, a uranium slug-gun bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, killing more than 60,000 people. Three days after that, another plutonium implosion bomb was flown over it primary target of Kokura, Japan. But the weather over the target was poor, so the plane diverted to its assigned alternate target of Nagasaki, Japan, and dropped the bomb there, where more than 40,000 people died.

Japan surrendered a week later, cancelling the planned U.S. invasion and conquest of the Japanese mainland and averting a projected 500,000+ U.S. and 1,000,000+ Japanese casualties.


So in hindsight was killing 100,000 worth saving 1.5 million (more than that really when you factor in the descendants of 1.5 million people)?

I don't think there is a right answer to that. But if you focus on winning the war as quick as possible, nothing says submit like killing 100k people in a week without losing a single soldier.

[Gaffer]

The firebombing of Tokyo actually killed more people than both atomic bombs. And more such bombings were scheduled to take place.

[glockmail]

The firebombing of Tokyo actually killed more people than both atomic bombs. And more such bombings were scheduled to take place. Very true and those deaths were far from instantaneous.

[Binky]

Ahhhh.....for the simplier days when there was no germ warfare or nukes of today. Unfortunately, when there's a war, people die. It would be so much easier and a whole lot nicer if we just had dance offs to settle our differences. :lol:

[Gaffer]

Ahhhh.....for the simplier days when there was no germ warfare or nukes of today. Unfortunately, when there's a war, people die. It would be so much easier and a whole lot nicer if we just had dance offs to settle our differences. :lol:

They could televise it and call it dancing with the politicians. Call in votes for the best dipping, dodging and spinning.

[Binky]

They could televise it and call it dancing with the politicians. Call in votes for the best dipping, dodging and spinning.



How about calling it "dancing with the pinheads?"

[Little-Acorn]

Soon as they figure out a foolproof way of getting the politicians from the other country, to participate and stick with the results, I'll buy in.

Until then, I'm afraid we're stuck with the old-fashioned way.