'My God What Have We Done'

Reuters ^ | Mar 28 2002

[2Trievers]

The Enola Gay co-pilot's log book recording the horror of having just dropped the first atomic bomb in war was the most chilling item on auction in a sale of U.S. historical documents.

The winning bid for Capt. Robert Lewis's log chronicling the "Little Boy" mission that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, was $350,000.

"It is a uniquely important document," dealer Seth Kaller said about the Enola Gay log. "It's one of the greatest moments, but one of the most terrible, of the century. It's a terribly sad record. I think that affects the desire to own it."

[TPartyType]

There's a big difference between "collateral damage" and, as SentryOverAmerica puts it, "breaking the back of the enemy by mass killing of civilians." I have a big problem with that philosophy of war. I learned that distinction by reading Richard M. Weaver, one of the fathers of modern conservative thought in America.

[Hildy]

My dad wrote a fascinating article about Oppenheimer. If anyone would be interested, I would consider putting it on Free Republic.

[PJ-Comix]

'My God What Have We Done'

Gave Julia Roberts the chance to stand before us at the Academy Awards Ceremony and say: "I love my life!"

Remember,folks, WWII and the dropping of the A-Bomb can only be looking at through the prism of how it affects Julia Roberts. The Universe revolves around Julia Roberts. In fact the Universe is filled with Julia Roberts suns orbited by Julia Roberts planets orbited by Julia Roberts moons.

It's ALL about Julia Roberts.

[2Trievers]

I, for one, would LOVE to read it! Thanks Hildy &;-)

[Doc On The Bay]

Your observation also applies to our current adversaries!

Let us hope that our current crop of "Leaders" have at LEAST the "Common Sense" of that "Haberdasher from Missouri--Harry Truman!"

Faced with "Psychotic Sociopaths," we are OBLIGED to eradicate the threat They represent to us & our offspring BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY!!

We are now (post 9/11) defending the very existence of our species!

In a "Life & Death Struggle," NO weapon is "Forbidden!!"

"Radical Islam" is attempting to destroy Western Culture.

Western Culture has enlightened & advanced & secured the future of the Human Race More Thoroughly, in a shorter time, & at a FAR smaller cost in Human Suffering & at a FAR smaller cost in Human Lives than ANY previous Human Endeavor.

"Radical Islam" is CLEARLY attempting to Destroy Western Culture & disrupt it's inevitable "Reach for the Stars."

The Human Race owes NO "Cult" "Obeisance!"

If our species cannot shed the forces which would obstruct it, or block it, or divert it (by accident or intent), our Species has "Every Right of Species Survival" to use ANY MEANS to remove any obstacle to its survival & expansion.

In Terms the "Islamic Sociopaths" may understand; the HUMAN RACE has EVERY JUSTIFICATION to use NUCLEAR ANNIHILATION against "Radical Islam" if the Psychopaths promoting this delusion begin to endanger the Species' future.

Doc

[doug from upland]

Thanks for sharing the anecdote of your father. Hundreds of thousands must have cried because they knew they would be coming home to their wives and kids. In war, I care about us.

[USNBandit]

I was stationed in Japan and went to the Hiroshima "peace" museum (on VJ Day). While most of the museum whines about being the only country to ever be nuked, they did mention that the army group based out of Hiroshima took part in the Nanking massacre. Of course they referred to that as the alleged atrocities.

[2Trievers]

Excellent PJ ... The "Julia complex" has it's origins in Jane "The Traitor" Fonda.

[koba]

If Al-Qeda had nuclear weapons that could reach America does anyone think they wouldn't have used it by now?

[Jeff Chandler]

Let's cut through the B.S. and consider the most sobering fact of all: After Hiroshima JAPAN DID NOT SURRENDER!!!!! That tells you all you need to know about the situation.

[BluesDuke]

The pistol was already cocked, no need to do it again.

From what I was given to understand, he hadn't pulled it back all the way the first time, and may have done the second pull for extra emphasis. Time was when the SAC Elite Guards, according to a fellow airman in my office who was a former Elite Guardsman (he crosstrained into my field, intelligence), were sometimes trained that way. Considering the specific situation and the general involved, the guardsman may also have been having nineteen nervous breakdowns inside and may not have cocked it all the way the first time because of those nervous breakdowns!

[TPartyType]

Okay, fine. People were saved and you were born. Goody for you. I just wish we had not used the A-Bombs on non-combatants. There are alternatives. There's probably not much difference between a flash and an all-nighter, but can't you even consider the superiority, in ethical terms, of keeping warfare within boundaries for the preservation of innocents? That's my point, and this thread seems like a relevant place to make it, thank you very much.

[TPartyType]

On the contrary, Japan thought they had surrendered. There was a miscommunication, based on cultural differences. They appeared, to us, to be waffling and we wanted unconditional surrender. That concept was foreign to them, so they surrendered in a fashion consistent with saving face, but we rejected the overture and nuked them again. At least that's how I understand it.

[blam]

" Of course they referred to that as the alleged atrocities."

Alleged? That's the problem

[Lancey Howard]

One of those little things that always intrigued me was that when we bombed Nagasaki, that city was actually the third target that day. The first two targets were passed over because the clouds were too thick.

[Octar]

Your comments bring back some pleasant memories.

I had the honor of meeting Gen. LeMay at Offutt AFB in the early fifties. I was involved with a sports car club at the time and he stopped flight operations and permitted a road race course to be set up on the vast runways. For a day, sports car road races were held and enjoyed, especially by Gen. LeMay, who stayed for all the races.

[Lancey Howard]

They appeared, to us, to be waffling and we wanted unconditional surrender. That concept was foreign to them, so they surrendered in a fashion consistent with saving face, but we rejected the overture and nuked them again. At least that's how I understand it.

The Japanese sure "understood" after that second nuke.

[section9]

To the crews of Enola Gay and Bockscar, thanks guys! My father was with the 557th Field Artillery Battalion attached to Third Army at the end of the war. He'd seen everything: the 29th Division took 300% casualties from Normandy to the Elbe. Another friend of mine in days gone by was attached to the Special Services Unit of the 82nd Airborne Division. He was on a boat in transit to the CONUS for service in the Operation OLYMPIC when the news came. The whole ship erupted in joy and relief.

It is possible that a lot of us on this board today are alive because of the crews of Enola Gay and Bock's Car.

Thanks guys....

"Enola Gay"

"Bockscar"

Be Seeing You,

Chris