To prevent another Hiroshima, maintain peace through strength

Seventy-five years ago today, the United States used a new weapon to end a global conflagration that had killed tens of millions of people. With the detonation of atomic bombs, first over Hiroshima and then Nagasaki, America finally broke the will of the Japanese government, precipitating its prompt surrender.

Ever since, critics have condemned these actions. Yet, they spared allied military forces and Japan’s population a far more costly invasion of the Home Islands. In addition, these demonstrations of such weapons’ devastating power have helped deter another world war for over seven decades.

Today, though, the adequacy of our deterrent is in serious question due to a lack of maintenance and modernization commensurate with the growing threats we face from Russia and China.

This solemn anniversary should remind us of the urgent need to attend to the dangers of such a shortfall.

This is Frank Gaffney.