Politics of Armageddon: The Final Time Out D+22 (31 July 1987)

In his mind, President Reagan did not consider his order to move ahead with plans and preparation for the Kola Peninsula offensive to be final. The first US Marine would not come ashore for forty-eight hours. Reagan intended to exhaust every effort in bringing the war to a conclusion before then. The morning’s NSC meeting …

The Politics of Global War: In the Shadow of Escalation Part II *Limited Post*

The National Security Council convened in the Situation Room shortly after midnight on 23 July, 1987. Despite the hour, President Reagan appeared quite fresh and well-rested. The chief executive of the United States had been under enormous pressure over the past two weeks. The fate of the world was quite literally on his shoulders. Though …

The Politics of Global War: Witching Hour Approaches In Washington DC

CIA Director William Webster placed the phone back in its cradle and looked at the collection of men seated around the oak conference table. He took a deep, measured breath and spoke. “Well, gentlemen, the probability of war breaking out between the Soviet Union and United States in the next eight hours now sits at …