Cold War cold-sweats: not just for Gen-Xers anymore.

[mckitterick]

In an article entitled, "Inside the Apocalyptic Soviet Doomsday Machine," (current issue of WIRED magazine), Nicholas Thompson describes a weapons system designed to destroy the world in the event that Russia is attacked. But there's a serious flaw in the system: It's a secret. Oh, and it's still-extant, armed, and continually updated.


Click the image to see the story.

Anyone remember "Dr. Strangelove, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb"? Dr. Strangelove cries, "The whole point of the doomsday machine is lost if you keep it a secret!"

On the plus side, now maybe my students will get a taste of the joys of growing up in the 1980s. Oh, wait....

I've done a bit of internet research to see if there's anything behind this story, and it seems possible. In fact, stories about the "Perimeter System" (aka "Dead Hand") appeared a decade ago. Anyone have a lead on the reliability of this report?

Chris

Comments

[tully01.livejournal.com]

The joys of growing up in the 1980s? Hey, I remember "duck and cover." :-D

No clue on how reliable the article is. The Russians are not known for being straight-up players, and layered disinformation is stock-in-trade with them.

"Gentlemen, you can't fight in here, this is the War Room!"

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Oh, yeah, I also did the "duck and cover" in elementary school. Right beside those huge school windows. Yeah.

I love that moment from the movie!

[yanbaoqin.livejournal.com]

Apparently the reason it's a secret is to keep Soviet/Russian leaders themselves in check. The knowledge that no matter what, there will be revenge keeps the hotter heads satisfied.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

That was a fascinating aspect of the story. I wonder if we have something akin to that in the US to take care of our own hawks?

[tully01.livejournal.com]

*I wonder if we have something akin to that in the US to take care of our own hawks?*

Nuclear sub fleet = guaranteed retaliation. We allow our nuke sub commanders a LOT more autonomy than the Russians do.

[bammba-m.livejournal.com]

On the plus side, now maybe my students will get a taste of the joys of growing up in the 1980s.

This might have been possible if John Hughes hadn't passed away this year.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Considering that I meant that ironically, does this mean you hate John Hughes films? If so, I might not be able to talk with you any more ;-)

[bammba-m.livejournal.com]

I meant that John Hughes is no longer around to make those iconic movies that we grew up with. Personally, I haven't seen very many of them, but the ones I did see I enjoyed a great deal. :)

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Recently, a Kansas City troupe did a musical version of The Breakfast Club. It's awesome!

[emessar.livejournal.com]

At least we still have Molly Ringwald.

[tully01.livejournal.com]

Except in the alternate universe where she belongs to Peter Griffin!