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wellerstein's profile
Alex Wellerstein
Alex Wellerstein
Alex Wellerstein
Verified account
@wellerstein

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Alex WellersteinVerified account

@wellerstein

Historian of science, secrecy, and nuclear weapons. Professor of STS at @FollowStevens. UC Berkeley alum with a Harvard PhD. NUKEMAP creator. Coder and web dev.

Hoboken, NJ / NYC
blog.nuclearsecrecy.com
Joined September 2011

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    1. Sparhopper‏ @Sparhopper 9 Aug 2018
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      Replying to @wellerstein

      These bombs finally convinced a suicidal Japan (that committed heinous war crimes, and was never, ever going to stop) to halt it's attempt at world domination like nothing else could and saved many 1000's of allied lives. Completely justified. No apologies. #Nagasaki #NagasakiDaypic.twitter.com/5cfN9TxEfv

      1 reply 0 retweets 0 likes
    2. Alex Wellerstein‏Verified account @wellerstein 9 Aug 2018
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      Replying to @Sparhopper

      There is no evidence that the Nagasaki bombing played any actual role in the decision to surrender, as an aside. Hiroshima — maybe. But most historians agree Nagasaki didn't affect things in any significant way, and was probably unnecessary.

      3 replies 0 retweets 1 like
    3. Alex Wellerstein‏Verified account @wellerstein 9 Aug 2018
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      Replying to @sturgidcyclist @Sparhopper

      The Jewel Voice Broadcast lists a lot of things — but indeed, does list the bomb. But one does not take official pronounces at face value; citing a new, "cruel" weapon as the reason to surrender is better than citing a fear of the USSR, if you are looking to save face.

      1 reply 0 retweets 0 likes
    4. Alex Wellerstein‏Verified account @wellerstein 9 Aug 2018
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      Replying to @wellerstein @sturgidcyclist @Sparhopper

      As for alternatives — I have, in fact, written a lot on this. Check it out, if you're really interested in how historians think about this. I'm not saying one of these *should* have been done, just pointing out what options were discussed *at the time*.http://blog.nuclearsecrecy.com/2015/08/03/were-there-alternatives-to-the-atomic-bombings/ …

      1 reply 0 retweets 0 likes
    5. Sparhopper‏ @Sparhopper 9 Aug 2018
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      Replying to @wellerstein @sturgidcyclist

      I will read it. But for the record, I'm not interested in "how historians think about this", I'm interested in what the historical record shows as fact, or fails to show in support of your claims.

      1 reply 0 retweets 0 likes
    6. Alex Wellerstein‏Verified account @wellerstein 9 Aug 2018
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      Replying to @Sparhopper @sturgidcyclist

      Ah, but you see: historians are the ones who read (and write!) the "historical record." So you've got yourself in a bind there. It's not as easy as just pointing to a document and saying, "here is the history!" It's a tough (but fun) job to sort out these things.

      2 replies 0 retweets 1 like
    7. Sparhopper‏ @Sparhopper 9 Aug 2018
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      Replying to @wellerstein @sturgidcyclist

      Historians *opinions are nothing without the historical record to back up their claims. Especially historians that refuse to admit they don't have the evidence to back up their biased claims. What would you have done? Sent tens of 1000's of allied soldiers to their deaths?

      1 reply 0 retweets 0 likes
    8. Alex Wellerstein‏Verified account @wellerstein 9 Aug 2018
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      Replying to @Sparhopper @sturgidcyclist

      Duuude I've directed you to sources with LOTS of citations. Even sent you a US gov't report from 1945 that concluded bombs AND invasion weren't necessary to end the war. Not much else one can do on Twitter. You're being silly, now.

      1 reply 0 retweets 0 likes
      Alex Wellerstein‏Verified account @wellerstein 9 Aug 2018
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      Replying to @sturgidcyclist @Sparhopper

      Alex Wellerstein Retweeted Alex Wellerstein

      but DUDE that is MY conclusion dude 😵https://twitter.com/wellerstein/status/1027581988843282432 …

      Alex Wellerstein added,

      Alex WellersteinVerified account @wellerstein
      Bottom line: if your vision of historical events tends to render your historical conclusions as being very simple (and coincidentally they overlap with your present-day political views), you're probably leaving a lot of important stuff out. Real history is complicated and messy.
      Show this thread
      9:29 AM - 9 Aug 2018
      0 replies 0 retweets 0 likes

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