The News Agents Was Hiroshima a war crime?
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Aug 6, 2025 The podcast dives into the moral complexities of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It raises provocative questions about whether these bombings can be viewed as wartime necessities or as crimes against humanity. Historical narratives are explored, contrasting Japan's and Germany's reckoning with their past. The discussion highlights the broader implications for international relations, nuclear disarmament, and the lasting legacy of nuclear warfare in contemporary politics.
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Hiroshima Bomb's Immediate Impact
- The atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima instantly vaporized everything within about a mile radius, killing 70,000 to 80,000 people.
- Thousands more died later from burns and radiation, making the total death toll over 140,000.
Nuclear Bomb's Unique Devastation
- Hiroshima was chosen partly because other targets had Allied POWs who they wanted to avoid killing.
- Nuclear weapons cause unique long-term suffering, with victims facing cancers, deformities, and discrimination.
Bomb Used to Avoid Invasion Costs
- The war with Japan was brutal with kamikaze pilots and mass deaths like in Okinawa.
- The atomic bomb was seen as a means to end the war quickly and avoid even greater casualties from an invasion.
