The Atomic Bomb and Terrorism

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses the short and long range effectiveness of the United States' use of nuclear bombs against Japan. The paper relates that the United States defines terrorism as an act of violence against civilians with the intent to change political, military, social, economic or other policy of a government or people. The paper then argues that the United States' drop of the bombs on Japan fits this description of terrorism.

From the Paper:

"The use of atomic weapons has never been a clearly defined choice for any nation. Nuclear power yields destruction on a level that is virtually incomprehensible. Two single war-head nuclear bombs were dropped on two cities in Japan and those two cities were leveled. The Japanese had no choice but to completely and utterly surrender to the United States. Those two bombs ended a war. But, at what cost? The truth is that, on some level, the choice to bomb Japan and not Berlin was based upon a virulent racism that coursed through the veins of the United States."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Alperovitz, Gar. The Decision to Use the Atomic Bomb. New York: Vintage, 1996.

More papers on The Atomic Bomb and Terrorism:

• Argumentative Essay # 128620 : "The Atomic Bomb and the Japanese Experience"
• Essay # 83621 : "The Atomic Bomb"
• Research Paper # 16028 : "Weapons of Mass Destruction"

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