Nagasaki remembered

Today is the 60th anniversary of the dropping of the second atomic bomb on Japan, in Nagasaki. Almost 74,000 people died in the blast, with a further 75,000 injured from the explosion and ensuing radiation, blast wind and heat rays. The city became a target because, at the time of World War II, its main industry was ship-building and it produced many of Japan's war fleet. However, it was nearby Kokura that was initially sentenced as the doomed target. Kokura was saved by cloud cover, as the pilot flew on to target the more visible Nagasaki.

Some theorists are now saying that at the time the bomb was dropped, Japan was already on the verge of surrender and therefore destruction on this scale was unnecessary. Others say that the Japanese were training their troops to act as unstoppable suicide bombers and there was no other option.

On such a day, it's worth pausing to reflect how America, France and Germany are threatening Iran with UN sanctions (synonymous with a US invasion) because of its developments of uranium into yellowcake, a gas that can either fuel nuclear reactors or, at a more enriched level, nuclear bombs.

Should we allow America to potentially undermine the UN again (one of the few positive outcomes of the last world conflict) and to wade into another poorly justified war or should we allow Iran to produce fuel that could allow them to develop the most destructive weapons currently available?

Who can we trust?