-~14our highways and threaten the survival of all motorists.
It
is most essential that we keep our perspective in such
matters and base our generalizations on substantial evidence.
To summarize this most complicated subject of the
medical effects of atomic blasts is simply to restate some
of the outstanding aspects.
Any future general war may be
fought predominantly with nuclear weapons.
These are weapons
of mass destruction which follow from the clear demonstration
of World War II that the outcome of modern war is to a large
extent determined by the industrial productivity of a nation
and the ability of a people to withstand great losses and
yet hold firm.
The fundamental problem is the prevention of war.
It is not to be resolved by negotiation dealing with a
particular type of weapon.
We must face the tremendous medical and social
problems involved in atomic warfare.
Not only must we be
prepared for blast and thermal casualties on a scale never
before conceived in warfare but we must recognize that
these weapons may also be used for their radiological effects to deny the continued use for appreciable lengths of
time of large areas outside the zones of immediate damage.
The basic scientific and technical knowledge that
is necessary is at hand and rapidly growing.
Our greatest
task at the present time is the further application of this
knowledge in our defense systems, both military and civil.
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