Kerry in Hiroshima

by Stephen Lendman

On March 10, two days of G-7 foreign ministers talks began in Hiroshima - one of two cities gratuitously atom-bombed when war was virtually over, Japan negotiating surrender.

August 6 marks the 71st anniversary of one of history's great crimes, followed three days later by incinerating Nagasaki.

At least 200,000 died, many others later from injuries and radiation poisoning, generations to this day harmed by radiologically caused birth defects and other serious health problems.

Truman lied, claiming both bombings hastened war's end and saved many lives. He authorized using America's new super-weapon in real time, testing its destructive power,  displaying US strength to Soviet Russia, well along in developing its own atom bomb.

Kerry is the first US Secretary of State to visit Hiroshima. Washington never apologized for gratuitous mass murder. Expect no regret expressed during his visit.

It comes ahead of Obama next month in Shima, Japan when G-7 leaders meet. It's unlikely he'll visit Hiroshima or Nagasaki during his stay.

Last August, Harry Truman's grandson, Clifton Truman Daniel said America will never apologize for atom-bombing both Japanese cities.

He learned from school books what happened, not his grandfather, propaganda about ending the war in the Pacific and saving lives on both sides.

Over time, he changed from believing the official story to becoming an anti-nuclear advocate. Disturbing truths he learned changed him short of denouncing his grandfather's gratuitous mass murder.

Last year, a leaked cable showed Japan rejected a US apology. Sent to then secretary of state Clinton, it said Japan's Foreign Minister Mitoji Yabunaka told US ambassador John Roos that "the idea of President Obama visiting Hiroshima to apologize for the atomic bombing during World War II is a 'nonstarter.' "

Japan feared anti-nuclear groups and others opposed to Tokyo's military alliance with Washington would would use the apology to support their position.

The late Howard Zinn called atom-bombing Japan twice "unforgivable atrocities…wanton act(s) of gargantuan cruelty…"

What "could be more horrible than the burning, mutilation, blinding, irradiation of hundreds of thousands of Japanese men, women, and children?" 

"And yet it is absolutely essential for our political leaders to defend the bombing because if Americans can be induced to accept that, then they can accept any war, any means, so long as the war-makers can supply a reason."

Today's thermonuclear fusion bombs are over 1,000 times more powerful than fission ones used on Japan - putting humanity at risk of extinction if used in enough numbers against enough targets.

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. 

His new book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com. 

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