SI
SI
discoversearch

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor.  We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community.  If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.
Politics : Formerly About Advanced Micro Devices
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  
To: combjelly who wrote (427049)10/16/2008 10:12:47 AM
From: i-node  Read Replies (2) of 1575681
 
>> No rational leader would have given it more than a second's thought.

That is, of course the problem -- you couldn't count on anyone to be rational. This was exactly McNamara's point in bringing up Castro -- that Castro was totally ready to throw it all away just to have the US be hit with nuclear weapons. This was a shocking revelation to McNamara and in fact he was totally shaken up by the exchange (which occurred at a dinner in Havana many years after the crisis).

I believe Reagan could foresee that one day we would be facing, for real, one more more lunatics like Ahmedinijad or even bin Laden and you could not count on rational leadership to prevent an attack. Frankly, there have just been far too many irrational leaders throughout history to be in the untenable position of having to rely on all leaders to be rational. It was a stupid position to be in.

McNamara's emphasis on MAD was a totally short-term, short-sighted, single enemy philosophy and never considered the broader scope, that nuclear weapons would someday have proliferated to many countries (and potentially even to non-states).

The balance of power is transitory, and while the US had much larger stockpiles in '61, as we now know this kind of race is one that cannot be won. So, for any number of reasons, MAD is just an insane policy.
Report TOU ViolationShare This Post
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  

HomeMailHotSubjectMarksPeopleMarksKeepersSettings
Terms Of UseContact UsCopyright/IP PolicyPrivacy PolicyAbout UsFAQAdvertise on SI
© 2025 Knight Sac Media.  Data provided by Twelve Data, Alpha Vantage, and CityFALCON News