sixty years ago this saturday--august 6, 1945--the first atomic bomb ever used as a weapon of war exploded about 2000' above the city of hiroshima, japan. 

in an instant, the city was flattened; 80,000 of the estimated 250,000 people located there were killed instantly.  another 60,000 would eventually fall victim to radiation produced by the bomb.

three days later, a similar bomb was exploded over the japanese city of nagasaki.

at the time, the usa was the only nation on earth to construct atomic weaponry.  20 years later, the world was divided into two major geopolitical factions, both of which had much more powerful and sophisticated nuclear devices.  there were also several nations capable and willing to build their own atomic weapons.  45 years later, one of the two factions began crumbling into oblivion.  still other nations were determined to possess nuclear bombs.  60 years later, 9 nations now possess nuclear weapons.

so far, somehow, mankind has managed to avoid using another one  of these weapons.

as more nations--as well as groups of seemingly apocalyptic terrorists--seek to possess them--we come ever closer to the day when the next nuclear device is used to wreak the horror of instant mass destruction somewhere in the world.  we're as likely target as any other people or place.

terrorists--whether domestic or foreign--have demonstrated a penchant for action on dates of historical relevance.

the murrah federal building was bombed on april 19 for example;  april 19 being both  the day our revolution began when  minutemen first attacked colonial britain.  it's also the anniversary of the destruction of the self-styled lamb of god, david koresh and a great many of his followers.  

september 11 marked the 79th anniversary of the british mandate in palestine.

i could be just paranoid...or perhaps i'm reading too much into this, but i can't think of a more auspicious and relevant date than august 6 for al-quaeda or some similar group to try and bring it all back home to us.