Oppenheimer's image cleared!

Oppenheimer, who died in 1967, led the Manhattan Project which developed the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II. The physicist was later accused of having communist sympathies and his security clearance was revoked following a four-week, closed-door hearing.

In stripping Oppenheimer of his clearance, the Atomic Energy Commission did not allege that he had revealed or mishandled classified information nor was his loyalty to the country questioned, according to Granholm's order. The commission concluded there were "fundamental defects" in his character.

Years later, an Atomic Energy Commission lawyer concluded after an internal review that the system failed and a substantial injustice was done to a loyal American, according to the secretary's order. Granholm said the decision was driven by a desire among its political leadership to discredit Oppenheimer in public debates over nuclear weapons policy.

The Biden administration has reversed the decades-old decision to revoke the security clearance of Robert Oppenheimer, the physicist called the father of the atomic bomb for his leading role in the second World War's Manhattan Project. 

US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said the 1954 decision by the Atomic Energy Commission was made using a flawed process that violated the commission's own regulations.

"As time has passed, more evidence has come to light of the bias and unfairness of the process that Dr Oppenheimer was subjected to while the evidence of his loyalty and love of country have only been further affirmed", Granholm said.

My take

Does such a posthumous pardon really mean anything to the victim? I've never understood as to what is achieved in the process that must have provided untold suffering and angst to the individual!

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by 9. 

Akhil was our sa'arthi and we'd set off for Rani Menon's Eye Hospital at Ayyanthole for the appointment with the ophthalmologist at 10.

The entire exercise took up the whole of the forenoon. Visual fields and OCT Macula were carried out on Lekha's eyes and the results are good. 

After lunch, we'd picked up a cooking range and its associated chimney. The shop's rep had followed us to dismantle the existing contraptions and the installation team will fetch up tomorrow.