Respond to both posts in your own words by either agreeing/disagreeing with their points and stating why or why not.
1) In June 2020, Chris Wallace was interviewed to discuss his book Countdown 1954: The Extraordinary Story of the Atomic Bomb and the 116 Days that Changed the World. Wallace’s points revolved round President Truman’s and the top-secret Manhattan Project’s efforts to create a weapon that would end the Second World War. According to the documentary released by History (2020) the Manhattan Engineer District was formed by OSDR in 1942 and Army Colonel Leslie Groves was appointed to spearhead the project. The Manhattan Project served as a code name for the U.S.’ efforts to develop an atomic bomb that would potentially put an end to WWII. Levy (2017) referred to this project as the project that changed the world.
Atomic bombs are highly controversial. I am well-aware that the U.S dropped two atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki (Japan) and this event brought end to WWII. However, the reason why the use of atomic bomb is controversial is due to its aftermath. Even today people in these two areas in Japan are still feeling the impact of radiation even though the event happened decades ago. During his interview, Wallace explained how the Manhattan Project received federal funding and perked the interest of the scientific community (CBS News, 2020). Although it is interesting to harness nuclear power, there is also need to be cautioned about its potential consequences. Following the ‘success’ of the atomic bombing to put an end to WWII the question was whether other nations should follow. Up to date, this question remains unanswered as no one truly knows the real potential and threats of atomic weapons. It can help win wars but at what price?
2) Chris Wallace's new book about the atomic bomb. He basically goes over the events that led up to the war at that point and that the atomic bomb was being developed secretly to be the most devastating weapon known to man. He talks about the decision to pick the cities that they did and the decision to actually drop the devastating bomb. He also talks about the utter devastation the bomb caused and how that convinced Truman that it was a real weapon.
The Manhattan Project was the Top Secret initiative to create the atomic bomb. It was a project that ran from 1939 to 1946.
The impact of the atomic bomb is so catastrophic. The destructive power that it had and the lives that it took are unparoled in human history. Without the atomic bomb it is unclear how many people would have died and it was a calculated decision to bomb the two cities. The implications that it had on the world are that it was realized that these bombs could devastate the world and everyone in it instantly. They are incredibly powerful and the world has realized that. One of the quotes that got me from the interview is he said that there have only ever been two atomic bombs used and that they were used within three days of each other, they haven't been used sense. I think the world as a whole realizes that these weapons are far to powerful to use and that a situation has yet to arise where one could be used again.
One of the things that stuck out to me was that Truman had absolutely no idea that the Manhattan project was a thing. He was the vice president and had absolutely no idea it was a thing. It is just crazy to think about. The other one that stuck out was that how they chose the target. The geographic aspect of making the biggest impact possible and factoring all of those things into choosing Hiroshima.
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