Hiroshima, Nagasaki officials slam U.S. subcritical nuclear test

Japan Times ^ | 6/9/02

[Enemy Of The State]

Hiroshima, Nagasaki officials slam U.S. subcritical nuclear test

HIROSHIMA (Kyodo) The governors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the mayor of Nagasaki and many other municipal officials protested Saturday over a U.S. subcritical nuclear test.

In a letter sent to U.S. President George W. Bush, Hiroshima Gov. Yuzan Fujita said he is angry that the United States conducted the test Friday despite repeated calls on it not to do so. He described the test as "a challenge to the international community."

Fujita also criticized the Bush administration for not ruling out a possible nuclear attack against Iran and Iraq.

Nagasaki Gov. Genjiro Kaneko and Nagasaki Mayor Itcho Ito also sent similar protest messages to the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo.

"It is a very dangerous act that could lead to a nuclear arms race," Kaneko wrote in his letter.

"It is an offense to the international community, which is seeking nuclear disarmament, and it cannot be allowed," said Ito, whose city, along with Hiroshima, was devastated by a U.S. nuclear bomb in World War II.

Other Japanese cities joined the chorus of anger. Kyoto Mayor Yorikane Masumoto and Toshiko Isobe, chairwoman of the city assembly, sent a protest letter to Bush calling on Washington to suspend all nuclear tests. It also called on Bush to play a leading role in bringing about the eradication of atomic weapons and establishing world peace.

Mayors of the cities of Sakai, Hirakata, Takatsuki and Suita in Osaka Prefecture also sent protest letters to the United States.

In Hiroshima, more than 80 people staged a sit-in against the U.S. nuclear test for about 30 minutes in front of the cenotaph for the atomic bombing victims at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.

"It is a test directly linked to war, so it is very regrettable," said Akito Suemune, 76, a survivor of the U.S. atomic bombing on Aug. 6, 1945.

The U.S. conducted its 17th subcritical nuclear experiment Friday at an underground test site in Nevada. The test was originally scheduled for Wednesday, but was postponed due to technical reasons.

The Japan Times: June 9, 2002

[Ajnin]

"It is a test directly linked to war, so it is very regrettable," said Akito Suemune, 76, a survivor of the U.S. atomic bombing on Aug. 6, 1945.

How about a nice warm glass of STFU.

[Ken522]

These people are ignorant! If the test was "subcritical," then there never was a detonation .... geeze ....

[Faraday]

Apparently one of the effects of the fission bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki was to turn the brains of the politicians to mush 57 years later. Would they prefer the US remove its nuclear umbrella from Japan? This would lead to 2 results: they'd get down on their knees and beg us to come back before the Chinese landed, and they'd immediately begin a crash program to develop their own nukes. (My guess is that Japan could assemble a nuclear arsenal in a matter of days if she decided too.) The last thing the Japanese want is a world where America is militarily stalemated.

[InkStone]

At last year’s bash, Governor Fujita was roasted, but he got all steamed up about it. However, the Governor recovered quickly and his after dinner speech was a fiery indictment of American Policy. A heated exchange followed. I’d be boiling mad too if instead of being toasted at the party, I was asked to take a char. But that’s no reason to go off half baked. Governor Fujita was just burned up because our tests were a flaming success. The Governor’s fiery temper is legendary.

The Royal Palace has announced that in December, Goverrnor Fujita will be lighted.

[onedoug]

...described the test as "a challenge to the international community."

Exactly.

[Reaganesque]

How does one say "bite me" in Japanese?

[genefromjersey]

Jeez ! Maybe we need to give 'em seconds !!

[CaptRon]

The sanctimony of these people really pisses me off. There would have been no need for the bomb had these suddenly-peace-loving people not embarked on a war of world conquest, right Mayor-san?

[fporretto]

The Japanese are being hypocrites if they expect American protection from their large, aggressive Communist neighbor, but without the muss, fuss, and frowns of actual weapons development.

The atom-bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki are still controversial events. I've entertained many a doubt about them, myself, especially in light of persistent reports that the Japanese were ready to accede to surrender terms that were a gnat's hair from what we gave them after the bombings. But that's in the past now.

Hot flash to Japan: Your prosperity is in large measure due to our defense of your islands, which has freed you to spend your public funds on other things. However, we cannot deter the designs of China without a large, scary nuclear force. Deal with it.

Freedom, Wealth, and Peace,
Francis W. Porretto
Visit the Palace Of Reason: http://palaceofreason.com

[Tacis]

I hope the aren't angry at us. I hope someone in the US government understands and explains to them as sensitively as possible that we simply have to be prepared in the event some cowardly folks stab us in the back while we are talking peace in another location.

[tet68]

Note the ones racing to the atomic bomb are Middle-eastern terrorists.

One wishes them a "work Accident".

[BrooklynGOP]

"It is a test directly linked to war, so it is very regrettable," said Akito Suemune, 76, a survivor of the U.S. atomic bombing on Aug. 6, 1945.

Somebody remind me.. Who started that war?

[Jhoffa_]

Yuzan Fujita said he is angry that the United States conducted the test Friday despite repeated calls on it not to do so.

I don't think Hiroshima or Nagasaki are in any position to tell us what to do with our nukes..

And I think they should know it by now.

[cake_crumb]

How insensitive of us to bring back painful memories of Japanese Imperialism, when they were determined to take over the world....

[dvwjr]

Please sir, may I have another?

[INSENSITIVE GUY]

IF YOU HADN'T STARTED WW2 WE WOULD'NT BE HEARING THIS RIGHT NOW!

[Bonaparte]

Fujita's kind should have thought of all this on that Pearl Harbor Sunday morning in 1940.

[Loc123]

The Japanese were not ready to surrender. Their civiilians were fiercely loyal, the home island was heavily fortified, and Japan's soldiers would give it all (IE the kamikazis). Not to mention bamboo knives were being handed out to every civilian with orders to kill any American they see.

Japan was ready to accept a surrender agreement similar to what they got after? Bollucks! There is no way they would have allowed American occupation of their forified and garrisoned island without the great bomb to bring them back to reality! They completely lost their sovereignity and honor with the post-bomb treaty--there is no way they would have agreed to that otherwise.

[spectre]

Hey, Mr Japanese politicians, the bombs PREVENTED two million Japanese casualties and one million American casualties by stopping the invasion that would have occured.

Eff them.