Hiroshima & Nagasaki Cover-Up: U.S. Secrets After 80 Years

Eighty Years After Hiroshima, a Look Back at the Bombings and a Forgotten Football Game at Ground Zero

This is Democracy Now!democracynow.org, The War and Peace Report. I’m Amy Goodman, with Juan González.

Eighty years ago today, the United States dropped the first atomic bomb in the world on the city of Hiroshima, Japan. Today, a memorial service was held at the Hiroshima Peace Park to remember.

Three days after Hiroshima, the U.S. dropped another atomic bomb on Nagasaki. Hundreds of thousands of civilians were killed in the bombings, many instantly, many more slowly from severe burns in what would come to be understood as radiation sickness, or bomb sickness. Some estimates’ combined total was at least a quarter of a million people dead.Today, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba urged all countries to make efforts towards nuclear disarmament.

PRIME MINISTER SHIGERU ISHIBA: [translated] We must not repeat the tragedy that was brought upon Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It is our country’s responsibility, as the only nation that has suffered atomic bombings, to uphold the Three Non-nuclear Principles and lead the global initiative for a world without nuclear weapons.

AMY GOODMAN: For more, we spend the rest of the hour with Greg Mitchell, former editor of Nuclear Times magazine who’s writen extensively about the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. His past books include The Beginning or the End: How Hollywood and America Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb also the book hiroshima in America and Atomic Cover-Up.Greg Mitchell is also a filmmaker. He has a new documentary,now streaming on PBS.org, airing on local stations, called The Atomic Bowl: Football at Ground Zero – And nuclear Peril Today.It’s a companion to his new book of the same name. This is the trailer for the film, which is narrated by Peter Coyote.

NEWSREEL: Admiral Halsey heads up Pasadena’s colorful Tournament of Roses Parade.It’s the 57th annual observance of the event.

PETER COYOTE: New Year’s Day. Americans get ready to enjoy the traditional college football bowl games. In the biggest contest, Southern Cal plays Alabama in the Rose Bowl. A dozen other games draw wide attention. But the most unique bowl game was played that day across the Pacific in Japan. It featured U.S. Marines who were part of the hundreds of thousands of American forces occupying the country since Japan’s surrender in September. Among the stars in the game was a quarterback who had recently won the Heisman Trophy and a legendary pro-football running back.

But it was the site of the game that would prove disturbing: on a makeshift gridiron near ground zero in Nagasaki, were tens of thousands had been killed by the atomic bomb less than five months earlier.Many of the players and other U.S. servicemen in Nagasaki had been exposed to lingering levels of radiation for months. Some would later complain of cancer or other diseases that can be caused by radiation. Why was this game played at this site, and then disappeared from history for decades? And why does the story of the…

The Automated Bombing of Nagasaki and the Suppression of Truth

The decision to drop the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima remains a subject of intense debate, but the subsequent bombing of Nagasaki just three days later raises even more troubling questions. As revealed in the film The Atomic Bowl: Football at Ground Zero – And Nuclear Peril Today, and historical accounts, the second bombing occurred despite indications that Japan was on the verge of surrender.

One theory suggests the Nagasaki bombing was a demonstration of force aimed at the Soviet Union, who were preparing to enter the war. However, a more disturbing possibility is that the attack was almost automated. The order wasn’t for a specific target, but rather to deploy the next available bomb from the assembly line. President Truman, reportedly surprised to learn of the Nagasaki bombing, promptly halted further attacks without his explicit approval, stating he didn’t want to be responsible for the deaths of “all those kids.”

The reaction to the bombings differed within the scientific community. While Los Alamos scientists initially approved of Hiroshima, many, including Robert Oppenheimer, were deeply disturbed by Nagasaki, with observers noting his anxiety and depression.

The ease with which the second bomb was deployed highlights a callous disregard for human life. This was further evidenced by the resumption of normal activities in the aftermath, including a football game just months later and a “Miss Atomic Bomb” beauty contest held in Nagasaki itself, demonstrating a shocking lack of remorse.

Furthermore, efforts were made to conceal the full extent of the devastation from the world. The most crucial footage of the bombings, captured by Japanese and U.S. military crews – including the only color footage – was suppressed for decades, shielding the public from the true horrors inflicted upon Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This suppression extended to press reports,film,and other forms of media,creating a decades-long “atomic cover-up.”

Nuclear Energy and a Return to the Moon: Echoes of the cold War

Recent discussions about establishing a nuclear reactor on the moon, coupled with the release of the documentary The Atomic Bowl: Football at Ground Zero – And Nuclear Peril Today, are prompting a re-examination of the history of nuclear testing and its implications for today’s geopolitical landscape. The film highlights a little-known chapter of the Cold war – nuclear weapons testing conducted near and even with American football games – and raises concerns about a potential resurgence in nuclear proliferation. The prospect of nuclear power on the moon, once a futuristic concept, is now being seriously considered as a means to support long-term lunar missions, but it also evokes anxieties about the normalization of nuclear technology.

The Atomic Bowl and Cold War Nuclear Tests

The documentary The Atomic Bowl focuses on a series of college football games played near the Nevada test Site during the 1950s. these games weren’t simply held in the vicinity of nuclear explosions; thay were deliberately scheduled to coincide with testing, and even used as a measure of public reaction and potential fallout effects. https://www.pbs.org/video/the-atomic-bowl-football-at-ground-zero-and-nuclear-peril-today-smqa3o/

As director Greg Mitchell points out in a recent interview,this history isn’t just a relic of the past.The willingness to expose civilians – even indirectly – to the potential dangers of nuclear fallout during that era demonstrates a diminished “nuclear taboo” that could have concerning implications for the future. The tests, conducted in the open air, released radioactive materials into the atmosphere, impacting communities downwind. https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/radiation/downwinders/

Downwinders and the Legacy of Fallout

The term “Downwinders” refers to individuals who lived in areas exposed to radioactive fallout from nuclear testing, primarily in Nevada, Utah, and Arizona. These communities experienced elevated rates of cancer and other health problems as an inevitable result of exposure. The U.S. government has since provided some compensation to Downwinders, but the full extent of the health consequences and the long-term environmental impact are still being studied. https://www.energy.gov/downwinders

Nuclear Power on the Moon: A New Frontier?

The renewed interest in lunar exploration, spearheaded by NASA’s Artemis program and commercial ventures, is driving the need for enduring power sources on the moon. Solar power is a viable option, but it’s limited by the lunar night, which lasts approximately 14 Earth days. A small nuclear reactor could provide a continuous, reliable power supply, enabling long-duration missions, resource extraction (like water ice), and the establishment of a permanent lunar base.

NASA is actively exploring fission surface power systems for use on the moon. These systems would use uranium to generate heat, which would then be converted into electricity.https://www.nasa.gov/directorates/spacetech/fission-surface-power/

Concerns and Considerations

While nuclear power offers significant advantages for lunar missions, it also raises several concerns:

Safety: Ensuring the safe operation of a nuclear reactor on the moon and preventing accidental releases of radiation are paramount.
Transportation: Transporting a nuclear reactor to the moon is a complex and expensive undertaking.
Proliferation: The development of nuclear technology for space applications could potentially contribute to the proliferation of nuclear weapons.
Public Perception: Overcoming public anxieties about nuclear power, particularly considering historical events like the Cold War tests, will be crucial.

Key takeaways

The documentary the Atomic Bowl highlights the disturbing history of nuclear testing during the Cold War and its impact on civilian populations.
The prospect of a nuclear reactor on the moon is being seriously considered to provide a reliable power source for long-duration lunar missions.
The use of nuclear technology in space raises concerns about safety, proliferation, and public perception.
Understanding the historical context of nuclear technology is crucial for informed decision-making about its future use.

Looking Ahead

The debate over nuclear power on the moon reflects a broader discussion about the role of nuclear technology in the 21st century.As the world grapples with climate change and the need for clean energy, nuclear power is being re-evaluated as a potential solution. However, the lessons of the past – including the dangers of nuclear proliferation and the health consequences of nuclear fallout – must not be forgotten.