The movie “Oppenheimer” and the anniversary of the 1945 atomic bombing of Japanese cities calls for reviewing what happened in the 78 years since and suggest a new path forward. Many scientists were refugees led by Leo Szilard. They were desperate to create the bomb before Nazi, Germany. This motivation was lost when Germany surrendered. Szilard then led a petition for not using it against Japan. It was unstoppable. Too much had been invested. Questions remained. It was uncertain whether an overloaded bomber and crew could perform a treacherous mission of 1600 miles to target and survive the detonation. The post bombing surrender of Japan was also motivated by the belated entry of the Soviets. They were rapidly advancing through Japanese occupied Manchuria and Korea. Post war Japan might have been divided between the free world and communism like Korea and Germany. The American response was initially celebration. A terrible war had suddenly ended. The mood became more  contemplative. A book by John Hersey told the stories of six Hiroshima survivors. The living would envy the dead. Atom bombs were described in terms of thousands of tons of dynamite. A Secretary of Defense would claim “more bang for the buck.” It ignored the deadly radiation and contamination of the planet from the making and using. A science fiction “War of the Worlds” weapon became reality, begging the question of who should possess. A proposal that failed was to give responsibility to the newly created United Nations.The United States would try to keep the monopoly. The Atomic Energy Commission with congressional oversight was created. The bomb design would be kept a secret from all other countries, including Britain that had been a crucial partner in making it. Post war testing started with Operation Crossroads in 1946 on Bikini Atoll in the far Pacific. The native Bikini people were removed to an island where they suffered starvation. The lagoon was filled with 95 ships, containing caged rats, pigs and goats. The first bomb was dropped from a plane. The second bomb detonated underwater. Servicemen were ordered to board radiation contaminated ships to retrieve animals. Operation Crossroads was also to showcase America’s superiority. Reporters and government representatives were invited to observe. It was broadcast around the world on radio. Planners back in Washington celebrated with a cake shaped like an atomic mushroom cloud.