“The atomic bomb is shit,” Oppenheimer said after listening to Szilard’s arguments. “What do you mean by that?” Szilard asked. “Well,” Oppenheimer replied, “this is a weapon which has no military significance. It will make a big bang—a very big bang—but it is not a weapon which is useful in war.” At the same time, Oppie told Szilard that if the weapon was used, he thought it important that the Russians be informed of this in advance. Szilard argued that merely telling Stalin about the new weapon would not by itself prevent an arms race after the war. “Well,” Oppenheimer insisted, “don’t you
...more
