That policy was not just about deterrence or response to a first strike by the Soviets. It involved a policy of FIRST STRIKE now so dear to Mr. Trump's heart. Eisenhower, for instance, was firm in his insistence that in time of crisis there could be no waiting for a Russian attack. For him (and subsequent occupants of the White House) our country had to strike first. In Eisenhower's mind and in those of his successors, "first strike" was best and "second strike" was a distant second best. "No strike" when provoked was unthinkable.
Guided by such policy, from the early '50s onward, plans targeted every city of over 25,000 inhabitants in Russia and its satellites, and in China too.
The planned destruction is mind boggling.
How many people would be killed? How about 100 Holocausts -- 600 million? That was the Pentagon estimate when the world's population was 3 billion.
And it didn't even count deaths resulting from Russian and Chinese retaliation!
Neither did it take into account the smoke and debris that would be swept up into the atmosphere blocking out the sun and causing nuclear winter. That climate change would make food production impossible and have any survivors starve to death (except perhaps about 2% of the world's population near sea coasts that could provide mollusks and other ocean foods).
Pentagon estimates are that about 2/3 of the planet's population would perish. Actually, (counting deaths from Russian and Chinese responses) the figure would be far closer to 3/3.
No one should have decision-making power like that. In Jefferson's words, its arrogation by morons amounts to "abuses and usurpations" designed to reduce us all to circumstances equalling "absolute Despotism."
But it gets worse. According to Ellsberg, no single person had the power to initiate a nuclear war. Many people did (and do) -- down to the rank of Major in the field or Pacific Fleet commanders in the navy. If communication were cut off, and if those morons judge they are under nuclear attack, they have the power to respond in kind.
Is that terrifying enough for you? "Abuses and usurpations" anyone?
The fact is we are all effing morons for allowing this non-government to survive without rebellion.
So what should we do in response to such outrages? At this point, I'm not sure about particular steps. But at the very least we should
- Throw the bums out. In 2018 truly drain the swamp. Get rid of ALL Republicans and their Democrat enablers.
- Replace them with Bernie Progressives -- with a goal of reviving the New Deal that provably raised living standards for all Americans, not just the rich.
- Institute a special war tax to fund the on-going war on terrorism -- to be increased with each new conflict.
- Before imposing such taxes, hold nation-wide binding referenda on their advisability.
- Stop dead our country's nuclear weapons modernization program.
- Begin serious world-wide negotiations for the elimination of all nuclear weapons.
- Force Israel to honor U.N. Resolution 242, thus removing the major cause of international terrorism.
And if none of that works, make discussion of rebellion and revolution respectable again -- in the name of Jefferson's brave words. It's our patriotic duty!
(Article changed on December 9, 2017 at 13:32)
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