THIS DAY – AT 6:21 P.M. ET:  It's ironic that the Trump/Putin summit is being held today, July 16th, against the backdrop of a nuclearized world.  It was on this day in 1945 that the first nuclear explosion was conducted, in the New Mexico desert.  It was called Trinity.  The world changed that day, and changed forever.

Only three weeks later, on August 6th, the first operational atomic bomb was used, against Hiroshima, in an attempt to end World War II quickly and avoid the bloodbath that would have resulted from an invasion of Japan.  The Hiroshima device was followed three days later by a second bomb, dropped on Nagasaki.  Japan then surrendered.

It's speculative history, but by any common-sense calculation, the use of this horrible weapon saved millions of lives that would have been lost had the war continued.

What strikes us is the brief time, three weeks, between the first test and operational use.  We should keep that in mind when the appeasers make light of Iran's or North Korea's nuclear progress.  Developmental technology is far more sophisticated today than it was in 1945.  We should assume the fastest technology is in use, not the slowest.

On balance, I would say the United States has been a good steward of its nuclear weapons.  We have not had need to use one since 1945.  Other nations, perhaps because of our deterrent power, have not employed those weapons either.  But there are no guarantees for the future.  New nuclear powers are being born.  Pakistan is unstable and has atomic bombs.  Iran certainly will get them.  You know about North Korea.  There are other nations waiting to buy.

The nuclear age is just beginning.  It is only 73 years old, a flash in history.  I cannot say I have much confidence that the nuclear non-use tradition will be maintained.

July 16,  2018