Emerging from the depths of the Great Depression, Americans confronted a unique challenge that demanded decisive action. Should the United States retreat into isolationism, the entire free world would be no more.
Fortunately, the Oppenheimer generation bore the weight of history, fearing that Nazi Germany might have a headstart on atomic bomb research, which turned out to be true. Against all odds, the United States crossed the finish line first. This pivotal shift provided humanity with more than a fighting chance.While war is never pretty and always hellish, yielding to totalitarianism remains an unacceptable option.
The world-changing events of Hiroshima and Nagasaki marked the onset of our Age of Nuclear Deterrence, shaped by the concept of mutually assured destruction (MAD). A return to a non-nuclear world is improbable in the foreseeable future.Our current task is to prevent nuclear weapons from falling into the hands of regimes like that in Iran. This responsibility no longer rests on the Oppenheimer generation; it is now ours to bear.Author: renqiulan
