Greg Mitchell's Blog, page 64

Countdown to Hiroshima: X-Minus 15 Days

Every year at this time, I trace the final days leading up to the first (and so far only) use of the atomic bomb against cities, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, in August 1945.   In this way the fateful, and in my view, very tragic, decisions made by President Truman and his advisers can be judged more clearly in "real time."  As many know, this is a subject that I have studied and written about in hundreds of articles and two books (including the recent Atomic Cover-Up) since the early 1980s with a special emphasis on the aftermath of the bombings, and the government and media suppression in the decades after.  


Yesterday's lengthy entry, including Gen. Eisenhower opposing using bomb against Japan. Today:

July 22, 1945:  Still at Potsdam, Secretary of War Stimson meets with Prime Minister Churchill, who says that he was baffled by President Truman's sudden change in getting tough, almost bullying, with Stalin--but after he learned of successful first A-bomb test at Trinity he understood and endorsed it.   Everyone also cheered by "accelerated" timetable for use of bomb against cities--with first weapon ready about August 6, and the second by August 24th.  Stimson in diaries notes that two top officials endorse his striking of Kyoto (which he had visited and loved) off target list.

The U.S. learns through its "Magic" intercepts that Japan is sending a special emissary to the Soviet Union to try to get them to broker a peace with the U.S. as soon as possible (the Japanese don't know the Russians are getting ready to declare war on them in two weeks).

Update: The Young Man in the Green Shirt

Update:  Victim has now been IDed--it turns out his family like others found out after watching him murdered in the video.  

Earlier: This is being called the most horrific, in some ways, video to yet emerge from the one-sided war in Gaza.  Rescue workers in Shujaiyeh are combing through the rubble for survivors, and a young man in a green shirt is seen joining them to carry a stretcher.  A little later while they are taking cover he ventures out to shout to see if any relatives are still alive up the street as you hear the nervous chatter of man and woman back with the camera.  Then a shot from a sniper of unknown origin--yes, Israeli forces are now in that neighborhood--rings out and he falls, but is still alive.  Then another shot.  Then a third.   Adam Weinstein story here.   I imagine we will now get the usual nutty claims that this was all staged.  Much more of my coverage today here.

Tuesday Updates on Gaza-Israel Tragedy

Arabic reporter for BBC physically attacked on-air in Israel, while called (according to some) "son of a whore."  Update: Wash Post covers it, bravo, but, in a classic--headline says attack took place "outside Gaza" rather than "in Israel."  So revealing.

 

NYT's fine public ed. gets to criticism of paper's Gaza/Israel coverage but mainly it's new top editor Dean Baquet defending and explaining.  Most of the criticism, to judge wrongly by this column, comes from the pro-Israel side.  Baquet claims, “There is zero politics involved."  And that he trusts reporters on the ground who are there--fine, except that the two in the Jerusalem bureau have long displayed pro-Israel bias, in the extreme.  To judge from this column, one of the main issues is not enough photos of Hamas fighters in the tunnels!   Weak, but she tells me she will be doing more. 

Gunshots fired into Al Jazeera's bureau in Gaza day after Israel threatened to shut them down, but source unknown.  AP had evacuated building.  Al Jazeera claim it was Israeli shooter and bureau chief displays one of the rounds, left.

That young man in now-famous video murdered by sniper in Gaza? Family found out he died--via the video.

Two days after their official denied "categorically" that there were no missing or captured soldiers in Gaza, Israel now admits that's not true. And the name matches the very one Hamas had claimed over the weekend.

Isabel Kershner, the second member of the Times' Jerusalem-based stenography pool, continues to downplay the civilian death toll in Gaza, suggesting only that "many" have died.  Others place total at about 3/4s of the 604 killed there so far.   But Anne Barnard, who is from the Beirut bureau and has reported from Gaza, does separate piece raising more questions about the Israeli targeting.  Closes: "At the house next door, a little girl, seeing journalists approach in flak jackets, sat on a stoop, put her face in her hands and wept."

MSNBC contributor who complained about their pro-Israel bias on-air says future appearances have been axed. 

Jon Stewart had the nerve to offer some brief, modest criticism of Israel's attacks on civilians last week--and got all kinds of flak, naturally.  So last night he did this:


The Daily Show
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The Young Man in the Green Shirt

This is being called the most horrific, in some ways, video to yet emerge from the one-sided war in Gaza.  Rescue workers in Shujaiyeh are combing through the rubble for survivors, and a young man in a green shirt is seen joining them to carry a stretcher.  A little later while they are taking cover he ventures out to shout to see if any relatives are still alive up the street as you hear the nervous chatter of man and woman back with the camera.  Then a shot from a sniper of unknown origin--yes, Israeli forces are now in that neighborhood--rings out and he falls, but is still alive.  Then another shot.  Then a third.   Adam Weinstein story here.   I imagine we will now get the usual nutty claims that this was all staged.  Much more of my coverage today here.

Countdown to Hiroshima: X-Minus 16 Days

Every year at this time, I trace the final days leading up to the first (and so far only) use of the atomic bomb against cities, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, in August 1945.   In this way the fateful, and in my view, very tragic, decisions made by President Truman and his advisers can be judged more clearly in "real time."  As many know, this is a subject that I have studied and written about in hundreds of articles and two books (including the recent Atomic Cover-Up) since the early 1980s with a special emphasis on the aftermath of the bombings, and the government and media suppression in the decades after.   Yesterday's entry.

July 21,  1945:    Secretary of War met several top U.S. generals in Germany.   Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower would years later in Newsweek write:   "Secretary of War Stimson, visiting my headquarters in Germany, informed me that our government was preparing to drop an atomic bomb on Japan. I was one of those who felt that there were a number of cogent reasons to question the wisdom of such an act. …the Secretary, upon giving me the news of the successful bomb test in New Mexico, and of the plan for using it, asked for my reaction, apparently expecting a vigorous assent.   During his recitation of the relevant facts, I had been conscious of a feeling of depression and so I voiced to him my grave misgivings, first on the basis of my belief that Japan was already defeated and that dropping the bomb was completely unnecessary, and secondly because I thought that our country should avoid shocking world opinion by the use of a weapon whose employment was, I thought, no longer mandatory as a measure to save American lives.

"It was my belief that Japan was, at that very moment, seeking some way to surrender with a minimum loss of ‘face’. The Secretary was deeply perturbed by my attitude."

Gen. Leslie Groves' dramatic report on the Trinity test lands on Secretary of War Henry Stimson's desk.  Residents of New Mexico and Las Vegas, who witnessed a flash in the desert (some received radiation doses) are still in the dark.

The Interim Committee has settled on a target list (in order):  Hiroshima, Kokura, Nagasaki.  Top priority was they must be among the few large Japanese cities not already devastated by bombardments--so the true effects of the new bomb can be observed.   That's also why the bomb will be dropped over the very center of the cities, which will also maximize civilian casualties.  Hiroshima has the added "benefit" or being surrounding by hills on three sides, providing a "focusing effect" which will bounce the blast back on the city, killing even more.  Kyoto, on the original target list, was dropped after an appeal by Stimson, who loved the historic and beautiful city. 

Stimson in his diary recounts visit with Truman at Potsdam after they've both read Gen. Groves account of the successful Trinity test.  He finds Truman tremendously "pepped up" by it with "new confidence."  This "Trinity power surge" (in Robert Lifton's phrase)helped push Truman to use the new weapon as soon as possible without further reflection,  with the Russians due to enter the war around August 7.  Truman has not yet told Stalin about existence of the bomb.

Note: Groves' lengthy memo generally pooh-poohed radiation effects on nearby populations but did include this:  "Radioactive material in small quantities was located as much as 120 miles away. The measurements are being continued in order to have adequate data with which to protect the Government's interests in case of future claims. For a few hours I was none too comfortable with the situation."

Bombing crews start practicing flights over targets in Japan.

Coutndown to Hiroshima: X-Minuse16 Days

Every year at this time, I trace the final days leading up to the first (and so far only) use of the atomic bomb against cities, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, in August 1945.   In this way the fateful, and in my view, very tragic, decisions made by President Truman and his advisers can be judged more clearly in "real time."  As many know, this is a subject that I have studied and written about in hundreds of articles and two books (including the recent Atomic Cover-Up) since the early 1980s with a special emphasis on the aftermath of the bombings, and the government and media suppression in the decades after.   Yesterday's entry.

July 21,  1945:    Secretary of War met several top U.S. generals in Germany.   Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower would years later in Newsweek write:   "Secretary of War Stimson, visiting my headquarters in Germany, informed me that our government was preparing to drop an atomic bomb on Japan. I was one of those who felt that there were a number of cogent reasons to question the wisdom of such an act. …the Secretary, upon giving me the news of the successful bomb test in New Mexico, and of the plan for using it, asked for my reaction, apparently expecting a vigorous assent.   During his recitation of the relevant facts, I had been conscious of a feeling of depression and so I voiced to him my grave misgivings, first on the basis of my belief that Japan was already defeated and that dropping the bomb was completely unnecessary, and secondly because I thought that our country should avoid shocking world opinion by the use of a weapon whose employment was, I thought, no longer mandatory as a measure to save American lives.

"It was my belief that Japan was, at that very moment, seeking some way to surrender with a minimum loss of ‘face’. The Secretary was deeply perturbed by my attitude."

Gen. Leslie Groves' dramatic report on the Trinity test lands on Secretary of War Henry Stimson's desk.  Residents of New Mexico and Las Vegas, who witnessed a flash in the desert (some received radiation doses) are still in the dark.

The Interim Committee has settled on a target list (in order):  Hiroshima, Kokura, Nagasaki.  Top priority was they must be among the few large Japanese cities not already devastated by bombardments--so the true effects of the new bomb can be observed.   That's also why the bomb will be dropped over the very center of the cities, which will also maximize civilian casualties.  Hiroshima has the added "benefit" or being surrounding by hills on three sides, providing a "focusing effect" which will bounce the blast back on the city, killing even more.  Kyoto, on the original target list, was dropped after an appeal by Stimson, who loved the historic and beautiful city. 

Stimson in his diary recounts visit with Truman at Potsdam after they've both read Gen. Groves account of the successful Trinity test.  He finds Truman tremendously "pepped up" by it with "new confidence."  This "Trinity power surge" (in Robert Lifton's phrase)helped push Truman to use the new weapon as soon as possible without further reflection,  with the Russians due to enter the war around August 7.  Truman has not yet told Stalin about existence of the bomb.

Note: Groves' lengthy memo generally pooh-poohed radiation effects on nearby populations but did include this:  "Radioactive material in small quantities was located as much as 120 miles away. The measurements are being continued in order to have adequate data with which to protect the Government's interests in case of future claims. For a few hours I was none too comfortable with the situation."

Bombing crews start practicing flights over targets in Japan.

Drugs Law Stuff U.S. Prisons

Another strong segment from John Oliver on his HBO show last night.

Carnage Continues: Monday Updates on Gaza-Israel

Anti-war activists getting beaten up...in Tel Aviv.  Reporter for Jewish Daily Forward is outraged. 

Unlike the paper's two main correspondents in the area, who have largely offered stenography from Israel, Anne Barnard of the NYT, who is based in Beirut,  has been providing strong coveage from Gaza.  Here's her report on Gazans having nowhere-to-run.

Short video covers staggering U.S. aid to Israel (more than half of our foreign aid).



Four more killed Monday in shelling of hospital.  24 reportedly killed from the Abu Jamaa family in Khan Younis.

Terrific new piece by Israeli writer who answers demands by friends there about why they should be for ending attackson Gaza, even unilaterally.  She offers one reason after another, including why it's not just the moral choice--but very much in Israel's beat interest.  

'Telegenic' Deaths and Other Sunday Updates

Updates:  Terrific new piece by Israeli writer who answers demands by friends there about why they should be for ending attackson Gaza, even unilaterally.  She offers one reason after another, including why it's not just the moral choice--but very much in Israel's beat interest.  

James Fallows tweets:  "When strategic message becomes ‘They’re forcing us to kill children,’ strategy is in trouble. As US learned."   See Vietnam-Gaza image above. 

Photos of worldwide protests on Sunday, some massive (such as in Chicago).

Live feed from UN as Palestinian and Israeli ambassadors speak and vote to be held on Jordan proposal.

476 dead in Gaza, 3100 injured.  At least one-quarter kids.

This CNN story purports to tell inside story of why NBC actually withdrew Ayman Mohyeldin from Gaza the other day (he is back, see below and follow him).  They key section might be on NBC feeling, for ratings, viewers more "comfortable" with a Richard Engel on air.  NBC wanted Ayman make statement "whitewashing" the episode but he refused.

Hamas announces it has captured Israeli--something that usually triples Israel attacks and resolve.  Anne Barnard of NYT:  "Scattered celebratory gunfire in Gaza City as Hamas announces it captured an Israeli soldier, Cheers and shouts of 'God is great.'" But Israel denies this has happened.

Earlier Sunday: Netanyahu on CNN correctly calls situation "insane"--but means only rockets to Israel.   Then says he's "sad about every civilian casualty" and only mistakes, but Hamas is using “telegenically dead Palestinians.” (He is approvingly citing a Krauthammer quote, it seems.) The "more dead the better."

Ayman Mohyeldin, who was pulled out of Gaza by NBC (for some reason) has just returned and is tweeting fron hospital after today's massacre.  First tweet: "Back inside # Gaza . Went straight to morgue. Emotional scene as families identify & claim bodies of the killed in # Israeli attacks."  See @AymanM

What's being described as "the massacre in  Shujayeh" neighborhood in Gaza, in heaviewt bombardment of war, with at least 60 dead today from Israeli shelling.  “Bodies were on the street, body parts everywhere. We couldn’t help them, we had to leave.”  Photo of mother who lost child.  More from The Guardian.    

NYT on its home page: "Casualties growing on both sides."  That is, two more Israeli soldiers and more than 140 Gazans.  No NYT front-page story, just "refer" line at bottom: "Hamas Slips Through Tunnels."  Wash Post headline on front page: "2 Israeli Soldiers Killed in Gaza."   Netanyahu on CNN just now: "If you look at our response it's actually very measured."

I noted the claim, and ran photo, a few days back back but now seems confirmed, as this Guardian story this morning attests.  "The Israeli military is using flechette shells, which spray out thousands of tiny and potentially lethal metal darts, in its military operation in Gaza.  Six flechette shells were fired towards the village of Khuzaa, east of Khan Younis, on 17 July, according to the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights. Nahla Khalil Najjar, 37, suffered injuries to her chest, it said. PCHR provided a picture of flechettes taken by a fieldworker last week. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) did not deny using the shells in the conflict."

Sharif Kouddous of Democracy Now! tweets:  "At Shifa hospital two children, 9 & 7 years old, lie dead. Arguments about IDing boy b/c his head is blown off. 'Is it Hamza or "Khalil?'"  Anne Barnard of NYT tweets:  "In ER, girl, 9?, lies still, staring. No relative w/her. Docs gently check pulse, again & again, until it's time. A white sheet & she's gone."

Photo below of video journalist Khaled Hamad killed last night in Gaza.  Note shirt.  His father at his funeral.

"In Event of Moon Disaster"

For the anniversary of our moon landing: The tribute, penned by White House speechwriter William Safire, for President Nixon to read in the event of something going horribly wrong.  Here it is in its entirety, including instructions at the end:

July 18, 1969.

IN EVENT OF MOON DISASTER:

Fate has ordained that the men who went to the moon to explore in peace will stay on the moon to rest in peace.

These brave men, Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin, know that there is no hope for their recovery. But they also know that there is hope for mankind in their sacrifice.

These two men are laying down their lives in mankind's most noble goal: the search for truth and understanding.

They will be mourned by their families and friends; they will be mourned by the nation; they will be mourned by the people of the world; they will be mourned by a Mother Earth that dared send two of her sons into the unknown.

In their exploration, they stirred the people of the world to feel as one; in their sacrifice, they bind more tightly the brotherhood of man.

In ancient days, men looked at the stars and saw their heroes in the constellations. In modern times, we do much the same, but our heroes are epic men of flesh and blood.

Others will follow, and surely find their way home. Man's search will not be denied. But these men were the first, and they will remain the foremost in our hearts.

For every human being who looks up at the moon in the nights to come will know that there is some corner of another world that is forever mankind.

PRIOR TO THE PRESIDENT'S STATEMENT:

The President should telephone each of the widows-to-be.

AFTER THE PRESIDENT'S STATEMENT, AT THE POINT WHEN NASA ENDS COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE MEN:

A clergyman should adopt the same procedure as a burial at sea, commending their souls to "the deepest of the deep," concluding with the Lord's Prayer.