Donald Trump’s thunderous threat to North Korea warning of the “Fire and fury like the world has never seen” is uncomfortably familiar.
This uncanny echo has been heard before and no, not from Kim Jong-un and his blustering Korean state media but from a former U.S. President.
Harry Truman the only president to have actually used atomic weapons warned Japan after we had bombed Hiroshima on August 6, 1945 that “If they did not now accept our terms they may expect a rain of ruin from the air, the like of which has never been seen on this earth.”
Without the convenience of twitter, Truman announced the news of the bombing of Hiroshima in a press release from the White House and in a radio address.
Truman was discouraged by Japans refusal to accept the demand for unconditional surrender that had been issued at Potsdam on July 26.
Masters Of The Universe
Warning that this rain of ruin would continue he threatened “Behind this air attack will follow sea and land forces in such number that and power as they have not yet seen and with the fighting skill of which they are already well aware.”
Ironically today marks the 72 anniversary of the tragic bombing of Nagasaki, in which Truman made good on his threatened rain of ruin. It was the last time a nuclear bomb was used.
The U.S. released this evil from it’s Pandora’s box and it now up to us to contain it, and more urgently contain our President.
Donald Trump’s actions have been a daily “reign of ruin” on our country, our fundamental beliefs and our standing in the world.
I am filled with fury…and fear.
© Sally Edelstein and Envisioning The American Dream, 2017.
Envisioning The American Dream 
awful, isn’t it ?
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Agreed Sally. Not only do we have a history of strong-arming and saber-rattling about using nuclear weapons and military might in 1945, but we also have a FINE historical example of (successfully) going down to the very last minutes, repeatedly trying cunnin, diplomatic negotiations to avoid nuclear holocaust: JFK and the Cuban missle crisis.
However, comparing JFK’s astounding coolness under immense pressure to tRump’s long track-record of childish ill-temper under threats or similar pressure… is sadly and horrifyingly night and day. There is no comparison. JFK would’ve never used Twitter for ANY sort of official communication! That says volumes right there about our current POTUS. 😦
If I were a foreign leader and enemy of the U.S., I would be laughing at tRump endlessly when he tries to beat his chest AND sound intelligent.
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The fear of a nuclear attack has chased me since my duck n cover childhood. The Cuban Missile Crises figured prominently in my childhood ( I’ve done several posts on it) and despite the incredibly high level of fear it was handled Cooley and rationally by Kennedy. Sadly those are not traits we can count on in our hot headed toddler like President.
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So true, Sally. So tormentingly true. 😦
On PBS Newshour the other day, Judy Woodruff and her guests Amy Walter and Tamara Keith, discussed the 2020 Presidential Primaries WITHIN the GOP:
[http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/trump-retains-base-support-getting/]
I’m really hoping the Russia-collusion investigation reveals a need for immediate impeachment. I’m not so sure America, its safety, and its future can wait until 2020-2021.
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Let’s not forget that the Foreign Ministers of both Koreas are speaking directly, and reports out of the South suggest there’s no reason to worry. Also, with the North having just released a Canadian prisoner, apparently Kim is not quite as vindictive as The Trumpet!
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A sad state of affairs when Kim might be seen as more mature than our fearless leader
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Of course. Besides, if Kim were going to fire the Nuke, he would hit San Francisco, Seattle, etc. Also, he freed a Canadian prisoner, showing that he’s not a complete JackAss. As Kim Jong-Un always says, let Trump eat kimchi!
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Concise and courageous. Required fallout shelter-drill reading.
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Thank you. You can be sure there will not be a copy of The Art of the Deal in my my fall out shelter
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Hmm… “Historian Tsuyoshi Hasegawa, in his 2005 book “Racing the Enemy,” provides compelling evidence that the Pacific War ended due to the entry of the Soviets, not the atomic bombings.” http://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2016/08/06/commentary/japan-surrender-world-war-ii/
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That has now become the conventional wisdom, sadly
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While the various foreign ministers–US, North and South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, China, Russia, and even the EU–attended an ASEAN Conference, in Manila, why did The Orange One have to shout his Dumb Nothings from afar? In effect, Trump drew a “Red Line”, North Korea immediately crossed it–trading him threat for threat. So Donald, what do you do now for an encore?
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I am reminded of two Robert Oppenheimer quotes: “I am become death, the destroyer of worlds.” And “The atomic bomb made the prospect of future war unendurable. It has led us up those last few steps to the mountain pass; and beyond there is a different country.” For all the”sturm und drang” out there, makes me wonder where the real leaders are. I can only think of four: the Dalai Lama, Pope Francis, Angela Murkel and Francois Macron. Sad, isn’t it?
But there is a consolation. There are the poets (Elizabeth Bishop, Jane Kenyon, Gary Snyder) and the composers (Beethoven, Bach, Chopin, Ravel) and the comedians who make me laugh. Such art. It does give a heart hope.
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As Trump doubles down on his fire and fury comment saying it wasn’t strong enough, I am grateful for the arts to add light to this darkness and sheer madness that has descended on us
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As State reported today, they have nothing to add to what Trump said yesterday. Personally, I was hoping that someone at “Foggy Bottom” could explain exactly what the Hell Donnie thought he was saying. Also, is there a message contained within that bluster?
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Reblogged this on nuclear-news.
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Thanks for the reblogg
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Thanks for the reblogg
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Ironically, the attempts to control or undermine Trump is pushing him to start a war to keep himself out of trouble. Both Trump and Kim care nothing for either their people or nations, they will leverage everything regardless of consequence to keep themselves in power. The ruled can only now watch as the gods fight it out, in which many will suffer.
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“If he fires one, then I’ll fire one.” [The Bedford Incident, 1965]
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