We Were Right To Fear That Weapon D+24 (2 August 1987) 1648-2015 Zulu

1648- On Nightwatch President Reagan is placed in contact with Chebrikov and Dolgikh in the Lenin Hills. They speak for eighteen minutes. The topics discussed have never been confirmed by either the Russian or US governments. Nor have any of the three men involved ever revealed the matters discussed and agreements reached at this time. …

Dealer’s Choice D+24 (2 August, 1987) 0330-0400 Zulu

0335 Zulu- The 30 kiloton warhead from the Soviet SS-21 exploded 2000 meters over a nature preserve 5 kilometers west of the municipality of Schwienau. The impact point was slightly to the north of the rear area of the Dutch 5th Division. The blast caused horrifically heavy casualties as well as losses of equipment and …

Ukraine Observations 27 April, 2022: Escalation

We are reaching a point in the Ukraine-Russia Conflict now where the threat of escalation is becoming alarmingly credible. The failure of the Russian offensive in the north has shifted the battlefield to the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine. A new Russian offensive is underway there, but its unclear how successful it will be in …

Politics of Armageddon: The Midnight Discussion

President Reagan and General Secretary Romanov held a short discussion not long after midnight. At the request of the US and Soviet embassies in Bern, the Swiss government established a secure, neutral communications link for the talk. Romanov spoke first and wasted no time laying the blame for events in the past twelve hours directly …

The Politics of Global War: Dueling Dangers in Moscow D+14 (23 July, 1987) Part III

The hotline message arrived in Moscow a short time before the Defense Council meeting was set to begin. Romanov’s military aide retrieved the translated copy of the message and brought it directly to the general secretary, who was just then making the walk from his office to the conference room where the meeting was to …

The Politics of Global War: Dueling Dangers in Moscow D+14 (23 July, 1987) Part I

Author’s Note: Sorry, folks. Had to shorten this post due to real life butting into my writing time today. But I think I can safely say this is the last time it will happen in 2020. 😊 Part II on Tuesday will be longer than usual. 23 July, 1987 is the point in time that …

The Politics of Global War: In the Shadow of Escalation Part III

The wartime structure of the National Security Council in 1987 was clear and rock solid. President Reagan was the final arbiter on all matters. Before the fighting broke out early in July, National Security Adviser Frank Carlucci had sat down with Reagan to work out a plan for how the NSC would operate once the …