Vi læser om kontrafaktisk historie her.

Vi ved, at USA med stor sandsynlighed overvejede at bruge atomvåben i Korea for at få afsluttet Koreakrigen.

I hvert fald afviste præsident Truman at udelukke brugen af atomvåben. Det skete blandt andet på en pressekonference den 30. november 1950. Herunder er der et transkriberet uddrag af samtalen med journalisterne. Q står for Question.

Q. Mr. President, I wonder if we could retrace that reference to the atom bomb? Did we understand you clearly that the use of the atomic bomb is under active consideration?

THE PRESIDENT. Always has been. It is one of our weapons.

Q. Does that mean, Mr. President, use against military objectives, or civilian–

THE PRESIDENT. It’s a matter that the military people will have to decide. I’m not a military authority that passes on those things.

Q. Mr. President, perhaps it would be better if we are allowed to quote your remarks on that directly?

THE PRESIDENT. I don’t think–I don’t think that is necessary.

Q. Mr. President, you said this depends on United Nations action. Does that mean that we wouldn’t use the atomic bomb except on a United Nations authorization ?

THE PRESIDENT. No, it doesn’t mean that at all. The action against Communist China depends on the action of the United Nations. The military commander in the field will have charge of the use of the weapons, as he always has.

Besvar følgende spørgsmål

Brug gerne din baggrundsviden om Koreakrigen til at besvare dem.

• Hvad mener præsident Truman i de ovenstående citater.
• USAs allierede reagerede med stor bestyrtelse på Trumans udtalelser. Hvorfor er udtalelserne så vigtige?
• USA endte som bekendt med ikke at bruge atomvåben i Korea. Hvorfor tror du, at de traf det valg?
• Hvad var der sket, hvis USA havde brugt atomvåben i Korea?