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Talk:J. Robert Oppenheimer (view source)
Revision as of 21:48, March 27, 2007
, 21:48, March 27, 2007Analyzing the evidence
==General Discussion==
Citations needed for the assertion that he did not contribute much to the Manhattan Project beyond management and that he associated with communists, as well as about the relativity stuff.--[[User:John|John]] 13:22, 5 March 2007 (EST)
Citations needed for the assertion that he did not contribute much to the Manhattan Project beyond management and that he associated with communists, as well as about the relativity stuff.--[[User:John|John]] 13:22, 5 March 2007 (EST)
:"Oppenheimer, Fermi, Szilard, and Szilard's secretary were often quoted in the NKVD files from 1942 to 1945 as sources for information on the development of the first American atomic bomb. It is in the record that on several occasions they agreed to share information on nuclear weapons with Soviet scientists. At first they were motivated by fear of Hitler; they believed that the Germans might produce the first atomic bomb. Then the Danish physicist Niels Bohr helped strengthen their own inclinations to share nuclear secrets with the world academic community. By sharing their knowledge with the Soviet Union, the chance of beating the Germans to the bomb would be increased.
:"Oppenheimer, Fermi, Szilard, and Szilard's secretary were often quoted in the NKVD files from 1942 to 1945 as sources for information on the development of the first American atomic bomb. It is in the record that on several occasions they agreed to share information on nuclear weapons with Soviet scientists. At first they were motivated by fear of Hitler; they believed that the Germans might produce the first atomic bomb. Then the Danish physicist Niels Bohr helped strengthen their own inclinations to share nuclear secrets with the world academic community. By sharing their knowledge with the Soviet Union, the chance of beating the Germans to the bomb would be increased.
==Analyzing the evidence==
Analyzing the [http://web.archive.org/web/20050204173143/http://www.tof.blogspot.com/#borltr Borden to Hoover, 2 November 1953] Memo, where the chief investigator was tasked to make a judgement and recommendation regarding Oppenheimers '''witting''' complicity with Soviet espionage, let's examine what Borden said.
After weighing all factors and evidence, this excerpt from the text appears to tips the scales in Borden's mind of complicity,
*''He was a vigorous supporter of the H-bomb program until August 6, 1945, (Hiroshima), on which day he personally urged each senior individual working in this field to desist;''
Such an action appears to be more of implenting a policy directive than just a personal whim of Oppenheimers. Just 5 months earlier the Rosenbergs had gone to the electric chair, as was known at the time, as willing scapegoats for higher-ups who passed more valuable information than they were able to get thier hands on. Thus, while Borden appears convinced in his mind of Oppenheimer's complicity, he still disclaims the findings with "more probably than not",
*''whether he became an actual espionage and policy instrument of the Soviets. Thus, as to this central problem, my opinion is that, more probably than not, the worst is in fact truth.'' [[User:RobS|RobS]] 17:48, 27 March 2007 (EDT)