Gorbachev believes that the World is readying itself for War.
In the event of a non-nuclear yet significant global conflict, how ready do you think the Western world is. Physically and psychologically?
Additionally, what do you think it would take for a heated exchange to escalate into the use of nuclear weapons?
Finally, assuming you're victorious what kind of world would you attempt to craft from the remains? What lessons would you hope to imbue the young with?
I am a big fan of the book Birdsong. There's a sequence where one of the miners who tunnels under the Somme to plant explosives, is granted leave and returns home to visit his parents. He is astounded to find life carrying on in much the same fashion as when he left. He tries to talk to his Father about the friends he has lost, the people he has killed, and is summarily dismissed with a glib statement about how it's hard for everyone. On a train journey back to the front he realises that he wants everyone to suffer, the people who are supposed to lend his struggle meaning, he wants them all to be bombed to smithereens. He wants them to know.
If mass conscription were to occur, I doubt most would be so charitable.
What is it good for? Absolutely nothin!
MayorPickle - What is it good for? Absolutely nothin!Ha ha. Nice summary.
MayorPickle - What is it good for? Absolutely nothin!
Say it again.
TheOGs#1RoyalsFan -I agree. It's the same with most countries though. Too pampered and disconnected.The American public are not ready for the type of carnage that will occur in a large force on force conflict. The thought of losing a Battalion minus of Soldiers trying to take a one key hilltop is not something the American people are prepared to handle.
My Grandad fought in the 2nd World War and even then he despised celebratory John Wayne type films.
His take on it as infantry who saw a lot of 'action'. 'Nobody was like that. Everyone was terrified'. When you consider they were all civvies I can imagine he was right.
He also hated it when the hero pulled the pin out of a hand grenade with their teeth. Said you'd rip your teeth out like that.
Tidgypud -I really can't believe it wasn't the first responseMayorPickle - What is it good for? Absolutely nothin!Ha ha. Nice summary.
Europe is preparing because of what Russia did in Ukraine.
Asia is preparing because of China taking over the China sea.
Did Gorby mention that ?
Did he criticize Russia and China for causing problems with their neighbors ?
GucciGucciGucci - Europe is preparing because of what Russia did in Ukraine.Can't remember the specifics but I don't think he got into the rights or wrongs of it. Understandably, he reflected on the joint US / USSR (at the time) endeavour to decommission the nuclear stockpile, whatever his motivation might have been at the time.
Asia is preparing because of China taking over the China sea.
Did Gorby mention that ?
Did he criticize Russia and China for causing problems with their neighbors ?
It seemed like more of a plea tbh. From a man who'd lived through a period of intense geopolitical tension, not to return to that era.
Whilst scrolling through Wikipedia I was staggered to learn that a lone Russian operative had to override a newly installed early warning system when it erroneously detected a sole Americanin ICBM inbound. Not just once but 6 times. It's hard to comprehend how close humanity was to the edge during that period.
MayorPickle -This. You clever bastards never let me down.Tidgypud -I really can't believe it wasn't the first responseMayorPickle - What is it good for? Absolutely nothin!Ha ha. Nice summary.
Yeah, because he's always been a fuckin ray of sunshine right? Not like he used fear to manipulate anyone ever....
The_KoJ - Yeah, because he's always been a fuckin ray of sunshine right? Not like he used fear to manipulate anyone ever....I'm sure that's true and I'm sure the impending collapse of the Soviet Union played a factor as well. I like to think though that at least part of the peace talks was driven by an understanding that nobody would survive even a limited nuclear exchange, at least not in any recognisable fashion. Not sure how true this is but there's a story about Reagan watching The Day After, a US drama exploring the impact of an all out nuclear strike. Allegedly it depressed Reagan so profoundly he softened to the idea of a diplomatic resolution to the pressures of the time.