The Politics of Global War: Vulnerable Deterrent Part II

After eight and a half days of world war, the strain and pressure of leading a nation in the fight for its very survival was beginning to affect General Secretary Romanov. Thus far, the war had not gone the way he originally envisioned. During moments of brief, involuntary honesty, Romanov could admit this to himself. …

World War III Pop Culture: A Review of Threads Part III

  In Threads, nuclear weapons strike targets in Great Britain on the morning of 26 May, 1988 around 8:30 AM GMT. At this point war appears imminent and Britons are preparing themselves and their families as best they can. An off-camera narrator explains how it is now 3:30AM in Washington and the Western response to …

World War III Pop Culture: A Review of Threads Part II

Mike Jackson directed Threads. Before the film project even took off, he and the film’s writer Barry Hines did extensive research on nuclear war, and a number of related topics. The British government at the time was light years ahead of the United States with regards to planning for its populace to be prepared for …

World War III Pop Culture: A Review of Threads Part I

In February 2013 I was at Princeton University wrapping up the MPA program and working towards a PhD in politics. I had enrolled in the course Military and Diplomatic Power: Getting the Right Mix. The instructor was Admiral Michael Mullen, a career naval officer best known as being the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of …

Gaming World War III: Tabletop Armageddon Part IV

1983 was one of the most dangerous years of the entire Cold War. As the year went on, events were taking place, and situations deteriorating on a number of fronts. Life went on as usual, however, it seemed as if the world was moving towards an imminent nuclear confrontation and there was nothing anyone could …

Gaming World War III: Tabletop Armageddon Part III

Ultimatum bills itself as “a game of nuclear confrontation.” While true, the game also includes other aspects beyond the nuclear battle that are important as well. Players choose to lead either the United States or Soviet Union and have to develop their economies in order to invest in, and produce nuclear and defensive weapons. Weapons …

Gaming World War III: Tabletop Armageddon Part II

Creating a realistic, and playable tabletop nuclear war game is no small endeavor. Mutually Assured Destruction, ICBMs, and fallout do not make the transition to a gameboard easily. The same holds true for the nature of strategic warfare in general, meaning there are dozens of variables that need to be considered, and factored into designing …

Gaming World War III: Tabletop Armageddon Part I

During my formative years I accepted the popular assumption that a nuclear exchange would mean the end of the world. Mushroom clouds would bloom, and fallout would spread around the world heralding the start of nuclear winter and the end of civilization. It made sense, and films such as The Day After and Threads in …

SAC on the Eve of War: D-1 (8 July, 1987) **

In the final hours of peace on 8 July, 1987, the US Air Force’s Strategic Air Command found itself in a peculiar position. As the other major commands in the Air Force and in other service branches prepared for war, SAC was maintaining a low key, business-as-usual approach. It was strange development, but nevertheless true. …