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hunter

(38,264 posts)
63. Yes, but Hitler was meth-head racist insane. And Japan simply didn't have the resources.
Thu Aug 6, 2015, 07:07 PM
Aug 2015

The Soviet Union would have built their own atomic bombs with or without espionage, especially once it had been clearly demonstrated the thing was possible.

The technology of Soviet nuclear weapons was more home-grown than many in the U.S.A. would ever dare acknowledge, even as our own astronauts travel to and fro the International Space Station in Soyuz spacecraft these days.

The Russian pessimistic, just one step removed from hell, Shit, just make it work engineering is never a bad engineering philosophy. A good Yin-Yang compliment to the U.S.A. optimist style of engineering.


I've always thought Einstein had it right . . . Journeyman Aug 2015 #1
Stealing this quote for my Facebook status update. Hope that's OK and many KingCharlemagne Aug 2015 #73
You may be right, Sherman A1 Aug 2015 #2
Many of those on the Manhattan Project MannyGoldstein Aug 2015 #31
A horrible thought, but I think you got that right. raccoon Aug 2015 #35
And that is really it in a nutshell... Whiskeytide Aug 2015 #44
In a sense though, the Germans and Russians had it right - I read up on something MillennialDem Aug 2015 #50
I think at that time if Japan had 'the bomb' they would have used it on us. Sunlei Aug 2015 #3
But they didn't Flying Squirrel Aug 2015 #11
agree & you're right, doesn't change the morality.But Pearl Harbor was attacked &they fought to win Sunlei Aug 2015 #22
Americans sometimes tortured captured Japanese soldiers Art_from_Ark Aug 2015 #65
They would have to deliver it in order to use it. JustABozoOnThisBus Aug 2015 #30
The Japanese launched submarine-borne balloons bearing firebombs against the Pacific NW Maedhros Aug 2015 #59
The problem is that we weren't the only ones working on the bomb. So were our enemies. pnwmom Aug 2015 #4
One of our allies was working on it also, Ilsa Aug 2015 #6
Who is that "us" you speak of? redgreenandblue Aug 2015 #17
What do you think about the argument that there have been no "great power" wars since 1945? Recursion Aug 2015 #5
I've made that argument for years Martin Eden Aug 2015 #15
I think that this is the result of a gamble. redgreenandblue Aug 2015 #16
I believe that is right. But to another point: it is my understanding that we developed CTyankee Aug 2015 #20
if you're willing to take credit for luck in Oct 1962, Sept & Nov 1983, & Jan 1995 HFRN Aug 2015 #28
I agree with that argument. hunter Aug 2015 #32
Yeah, that animation of every nuclear detonation since '45 was sobering Recursion Aug 2015 #34
The bomb didn't have to be used on Japan, twice. Unknown Beatle Aug 2015 #7
What do you base that on? Adrahil Aug 2015 #8
I don't really get how this is an argument by itself. There were many in the German high command MillennialDem Aug 2015 #53
One reason they were anxious to end the war, was the prevent Soviet expansion. Adrahil Aug 2015 #57
They were crazy enough to attack us. I wouldn't assume that they'd have backed down pnwmom Aug 2015 #10
If this theory was correct, why didn't they surrender after Hiroshima? jeff47 Aug 2015 #24
And only then because Hirohito hifiguy Aug 2015 #40
Apparently, those in charge of military at the time agree with you gratuitous Aug 2015 #37
So, you believe that if the Manhattan Project... Adrahil Aug 2015 #9
You say that as if anyone had a choice Android3.14 Aug 2015 #12
I think it was more a race to who could build it first. Live and Learn Aug 2015 #13
that's the conundrum - one's own not doing it, does not mean it doesn't get done HFRN Aug 2015 #27
Sorry, but when you say skepticscott Aug 2015 #14
Should isn't a word that matters when it comes to human invention The2ndWheel Aug 2015 #18
I think a bomb was inevitable Hydra Aug 2015 #19
The ironic thing is Shankapotomus Aug 2015 #21
You can say the same thing about any weapon or method of war Lee-Lee Aug 2015 #23
Physics does not care if you do not like it. jeff47 Aug 2015 #25
Basically, no HassleCat Aug 2015 #26
We oldest Boomers have grown up scarred by the bomb Warpy Aug 2015 #29
Ah yes, duck and cover... hunter Aug 2015 #33
I lived in DC during the worst of it Warpy Aug 2015 #48
Don't see these signs much anymore either Go Vols Aug 2015 #39
Yeah, I saw thosein every basement and subway station until the 70s Warpy Aug 2015 #47
The only one still around here I know of is on an old hospital Go Vols Aug 2015 #49
I think they'd taken them down in my old hospital Warpy Aug 2015 #56
Better us than them. Codeine Aug 2015 #36
Were there other countries working on a similar weapon? cherokeeprogressive Aug 2015 #38
Have you read ANY of the history of that time? n/t MicaelS Aug 2015 #41
My question was purely rhetorical. cherokeeprogressive Aug 2015 #43
Sorry, my mistake n/t MicaelS Aug 2015 #46
Yes, but Hitler was meth-head racist insane. And Japan simply didn't have the resources. hunter Aug 2015 #63
Hypocrisy on the part of some Physicists. MicaelS Aug 2015 #42
It would have been built, regardless. Spider Jerusalem Aug 2015 #45
You guys/gals fascinate the hell out of me, your intellect, the shit you think up. AllFieldsRequired Aug 2015 #51
Actually, they opened the gates of Hell and I don't know what it will take to close them again. Cleita Aug 2015 #52
But Germany also had an A bomb project Motown_Johnny Aug 2015 #54
Since Germany was working on the same thing at the same time, there wasn't much choice still_one Aug 2015 #55
Thanks for posting One of the 99 Aug 2015 #60
Oppenheimer dogknob Aug 2015 #58
I agree, but the war made this into a horse race between us and Germany. Rex Aug 2015 #61
They had no clue, at least not until they were well along in the process. MADem Aug 2015 #62
Hard to say. hifiguy Aug 2015 #64
NPR had interviews this am quaker bill Aug 2015 #66
I too am a physicist jimlup Aug 2015 #67
Thanks for your perspective. redgreenandblue Aug 2015 #70
A quick search... jimlup Aug 2015 #74
history pretty much agrees... Takket Aug 2015 #68
It's not stamp collecting ThoughtCriminal Aug 2015 #69
If you are saying the bomb should have never been built, then by default you are saying davidpdx Aug 2015 #71
People need to think "should we make it" before asking "can we make it" Marrah_G Aug 2015 #72
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