08-06-05 Remember the Bomb

It was 60 years ago today.

At 8:15 a.m. in the city of Hiroshima, Japan, the United States B-29 bomber, the "Enola Gay", commanded by Colonel Paul Tibbets, performed the historic first act of nuclear warfare. Captain William Parsons had armed the 13 kiloton nuclear bomb, "Little Boy" during the flight, and it dropped at 8:15 into the city. It performed according to design. The bomb never hit the ground, but exploded 2,000 feet over the city.

80,000 people died in a matter of seconds.

60,000 more people died in the next five months.

Another 60,000 would die in the next few years.

All told, 200,000 people lost their lives due to one bomb.

What a difference 130 pounds of U-235 can make.

A second bomb would be dropped on the city of Nagasaki three days later.

The US remains to this day the only country to have committed an act of nuclear warfare. The two bombs were dropped on civilian populations. The US currently proclaims a public policy of "non-proliferation" of nuclear weapons, while simultaneously continuing to be the largest producer, developer, and holder of bombs.

For 60 years, our leaders have had the power to destroy life on this planet. And, they haven't used it.... yet.