[DUMBGRUNT]

Because of Russia's long-term concerns with the mineshaft gap, they have been building a huge underground economy. Impossible to detect with satellites.

Near zero pollution, extreme green tech, and harvesting wild edible roots from above. Large arrays of solar panels driven by underground LED street lights. Also recycling the Soviet Union's 2500 Abandoned Nuclear Generators! https://youtu.be/NT8-b5YEyjo

President Brandon: But this is absolute madness, Ambassador! Why should you *build* such a thing?

Russian Ambassador : There were those of us who fought against it, but in the end we could not keep up with the expense involved in the arms race, the space race, and the peace race. At the same time our people grumbled for more nylons and washing machines. Our doomsday scheme cost us just a small fraction of what we had been spending on defense in a single year. The deciding factor was when we learned that your country was working along similar lines, and we were afraid of a doomsday gap.

President Brandon: This is preposterous. I've never approved of anything like that.

Russian Ambassador : Our source was the New York Times.

[higgmeister]

This is inane.

[alternatives?]

Russia may just be becoming more efficient in their use of energy over time. Hard to tell.

[tlozo]

Yet with Moscow's penchant for wartime propaganda, to what extent should anyone trust Russia's economic information?

[ansel12]

This looks like routine intelligence gathering.