Soviet Atomic Bomb Test
On August 29, 1949, the Soviet Union exploded its first atomic bomb. It came as a great shock to the United States because they were not expecting the Soviet Union to possess nuclear weapon knowledge so soon. Previously, the United States had used two atomic bombs on Japan to cause them to surrender during World War II. The impact that the possession of nuclear weapons by the Soviet Union had upon the United States was that it caused Americans to question their own safety.
President Truman responded by reevaluating the United States position in the world and called for the United States to build up its conventional and nuclear weapons to halt the spread of Soviet influence around the globe.
The Cold War Museum – Soviet Atomic Bomb Test
How many people, on that day, believed that 60 years could pass without a nuclear weapon being used in war anywhere on the planet?
Earlier this year, I put up a review at the HotAir Green Room of The Bomb by Stephen Younger, one of the world’s true experts on nuclear weapons and related political and technical issues. I highly recommend the book to anyone who would be happy to move beyond Hollywood- and pundit-level “nightmare scenarios” in the discussion of nuclear threats and deterrence.
Comments 11
In 1949, the Soviets didn’t love death, and so Truman could succeed. Azzam Tamimi, a member of a London-based Islamic think tank, has said that what distinguishes good Muslims from others is: We love death. They love life.
August 29th, 2009 at 6:40 pm
That’s an important point, George. And let’s not forget how close we came to a nuclear war in October, 1962.
August 29th, 2009 at 7:01 pm
@George Jochnowitz – Was Tamimi alive when he said this?
Is he alive at present?
August 29th, 2009 at 7:12 pm
According to Wikipedia, Tamimi is alive and lives in North West London. It is not too surprising that a culture that has produced suicide bombers would include a scholar who praises his society’s commitment to death, presumably in the context of jihad.
August 29th, 2009 at 8:40 pm
@George Jochnowitz – George, you continue to take a view of actions and statements that would lead one to assume that you think that people have no other interest in life that rivals hatred.
August 29th, 2009 at 8:50 pm
fuster,
I don’t think that about people, only about certain people who belong to the Marxist-Islamic Alliance. People are good. My book, after all, is entitled THE BLESSED HUMAN RACE.
August 29th, 2009 at 9:36 pm
George, how many people are in this M-I Alliance?
August 29th, 2009 at 9:43 pm
fuster,
I don’t know, but the number would include the rulers of Iran, North Korea, and Venezuela, as well as committed members of al-Qaeda and Taliban.
August 29th, 2009 at 10:02 pm
Everybody needs a straight man.
August 29th, 2009 at 11:12 pm
@Zoltan Newberry – Zoltan, I’ll send one right over. No charge.
August 29th, 2009 at 11:21 pm
George,
fuster teased out a good point but didn’t pursue it. This Tamini fellow is alive, and so are all the mullahs who encourage and train suicide bombers. It’s an error to take Tamini at his word on the “love death” thing.
In actuality his culture produces a lot more people desperate enough to be cajoled into embracing death; but those rarely seems to include the intellectuals like Tamini.
Why Tamini himself is still alive and living in Great Britain is another question. In a proper world he would have had an accident not long after making his statement.
August 30th, 2009 at 9:40 am