“The world’s political and financial elite have access to bunkers to protect themselves and their loved ones from a nuclear blast and ensuing fallout. Politicians have plans in place to protect themselves so they can continue to wage a nuclear war from underground…
“But what about the rest of us? We have nowhere to go. Our leaders have failed us…they have done nothing to protect us…They don’t care about us. We are left to be incinerated…If by some miracle we survive [the attacks] and the ensuing nuclear fallout, we will be left to endure the pain and suffering caused by radiation, no food and water, and a nuclear winter – leaving a barren landscape of death and destruction…” – Tulsi Gabbard
When you realize the leaders of the world spent decades planning for the genocide of humanity – and still have such plans in place – if you had any iota of trust in government left, it will certainly leave the rational mind.
This is what makes Annie Jacobsen’s new book, Nuclear War, so disturbing. In it she details a scenario, based on declassified documents and interviews with government officials, in which a nuclear war unfolds. For decades, government leaders around the world knowingly and willingly made plans for the genocide of the human race. As Jacobsen has stated, “No matter how a nuclear war starts, it ends with everyone dead.”
Ronald Reagan had said, “A nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought.” This is why he initiated the missile defense program, a technologically difficult program to shoot down nuclear ballistic missiles. It would be well into to the 21st Century before a limited, and problematic, system was deployed. Many of the same politicians casual in their planning for Armageddon, don’t seem to care about protecting their people from attack. Had missile defense had been taken seriously, had trillions not been spent on endless wars, could we have a robust missile defense system? Would Reagan’s dream of rendering nuclear ballistic missiles obsolete be a reality?
Throughout the Cold War, as described in 15 Minutes, close calls were abundant. Nuclear weapons were used carelessly and fielded in every way the military could imagine. Any weapon system could be made nuclear was made nuclear. Military planners advocated for preemptive nuclear war against enemies, as if nuclear attacks are self-contained and don’t impact the entire world. Now, in our own time, politicians once again toss around using nuclear weapons as if it comes with zero consequence. A world where war has been turned into another social program, the potential of nuclear conflict is quickly reaching Cold War levels.
As Jacobsen wrote, “Nuclear war is insane…The whole premise of using nuclear weapons is madness. It is irrational. And yet here we are.”
Perhaps people should put down their phones, shut off their televisions, and take control of their governments, and pay attention for once.
Once the missiles are launched, there will be no second chances.
History warns us. Legend fascinates us. Imagination drives us. Authors take these and create worlds that entertain, provoke and warn. Ultimately, even fiction is about the Story we all find ourselves in.
Darrick Dean 