Yesterday, Friday, August 7, marked exactly 75th anniversary commemorating the now infamous bombings of #Hiroshima and #Nagasaki in Japan by the self-styled God’s own country, United States of America, during the final stage of World War II.
The two bombings (first, on Hiroshima on August 6, and second, on Nagasaki on August 9) killed over 200, 000 people instantly; and till date, remains the first use of nuclear weapons for warfare in the history of mankind.
Within the first two to four months of the bombings, the acute effects of the atomic bombings killed 90,000–166,000 people in Hiroshima and 39,000–80,000 in Nagasaki; roughly half of the deaths in each city occurred on the first day.
During the following months, large numbers died from the effect of burns, radiation sickness and other injuries, compounded by illness and malnutrition. In both cities, most of the dead were civilians, although Hiroshima had a sizable military garrison.
It was so devastating and catastrophic that the pilot that dropped the first atomic bomb, Paul Tibbets became psychic, after seeing the results of his handiwork and for several years, experienced series of strokes and heart failure, before he eventually died in 2007. Yet, Tibbets said, in an interview, “NO REGRETS” for killing innocent people during the apocalyptic mission.
United States of America have also justified the bombings, as many residents in the Japanese city of Hiroshima commemorate the 75th anniversary of the first atomic bomb yesterday.
“56 percent of Americans think the use of atomic bomb against Japan was justified and necessary to end the war.” According to Pew Research Centre.
The Hiroshoma and Nagasaki bombings were not war crimes because the culprit was America, the world police. But, the late Saddam Hussein of Iraq was wrongly indicted by the same America for alleged used of chemical weapons to exterminate kurdish population during the Anfal operations in the 80’s.
This actually shows the double standard of the West. The World super powers including the US have the right to build atomic bombs and weapon of mass destruction, yet it becomes unlawful for Iran to develop it, even when Tehran said its nuclear program is a peaceful one.
Apart from Tehran, many nations, including apartheid Israeli state have continued to research and stock pile weapons despite numerous efforts to reduce or eliminate them, it’s very disappointing to hear that the UN is very selective in the disarmament process.
Israel, for instance, has never admitted or denied the chemical weapons story; but many observers and researchers believed that Tel-Aviv is the only country in the Middle East with such nuclear arsenal, and had in fact, experimented it in the past.
During the 2008/2009 Gaza war, Israel used white phosphorus (also considered as a chemical weapon) against the densely populated Palestine, killing thousands of innocent civilians. Interestingly, the Goldston’s report acknowledged that Israel used the chemical, which is indeed a war crime.
The United Nations indicted Israel but unfortunately, failed to punish the apartheid country that has incredible records of human rights abuses against the civilian population in Palestine, because of the United State’s unconditional support for the Jewish state.
There were evidence that Syrian President, Bashir Al-Assad’s regime used chemical weapons against civilians in 2013 during the five-year old uprising turned bloody civil war. Although, the adamant Al-Assad denied using the dangerous weapon, saying: “There has been no evidence that I used chemical weapons against my own people.” It may, however, be surprising that over 30,000 Syrians have lost their lives to the war, without an end in sight.
Chemical weapons are dangerous and harmful, not to human race alone, but animals, plants and the planet in general. Imagine the blood of innocent people shed in Hiroshima and Nagasaki seven decades ago? Imagine the numbers of people that lost their loved ones. Imagine the children that became orphans as a result of those actions?
The time is now for every country of the world, including the police of the world to say ‘No to war’ and destroy the evil nuclear weapons. Imagine a world without war? A world where human beings live together as one. A world where blood (soul) is considered sacred.
A world where justice thrives. A world where human beings unite and love one another.
It begins with you.
… Let peace reign.
Rasheed Abubakar is the publisher of Muslim News Nigeria
