Posted on 09/22/2009 7:35:18 PM PDT by justlurking
Link only, due to Wired's copyright complaints.
Inside the Apocalyptic Soviet Doomsday Machine
I'm posting this without any text, because I think it's important.
The "Doomsday" machine is apparently real, and still operational. Read the article for more details.
Marked for later read... that’s long.
Now then, Dmitri, you know how we’ve always talked about the possibility of something going wrong with the bomb. [pause] The BOMB, Dmitri! Well now, what happened is, uh, one of our base commanders, he had a sort of, well, he went a little funny in the head. You know. Just a little...funny. And uh, he went and did a silly thing. Well, I’ll tell you what he did, he ordered his planes...to attack your country
Its a good read; picked it up from /. earlier today.
It would still have to be maintained.
Not a small order.
Balthorium-G
WE MUST NOT ALLOW A MINESHAFT GAP!
Like Dr. Strangelove said in the movie. The entire purpose of the Dooms Day Machine is to instill the fear to attack; “Why didn’t you tell the world”
Don’t you mean Cobalt-Thorium-G?
Yes, I have no life...
The secret Closed Cities still operate in Russia.
The Yamantau Mountain complex continues to expand, using the money we send Russia to disarm.
As you may remember, the attack by the rogue US general is expected to set off a Soviet doomsday machine. It results in the following conversation:
Ambassador de Sadesky: It was to be announced at the Party Congress on Monday. As you know, the Premier loves surprises.
In their heyday only about 80% of Soviet missiles would launch on the first attempt. I’d imagine its much much lower now.
Col. Kong is no longer available.
Are these for REAL? I have a close friend who was in the Gulf War who said he actually saw these. Is this BS?
Interesting. I wonder if the Russians have kept what would have to be a large number of computers, radio systems, and missiles maintained to the point that they would still work today.
According to the article, it is still maintained.
It's not so much a "device", as a command-and-control system that will survive any attack. What makes it a "dead hand" system is procedures that activate if certain conditions are met... one of which is the cut-off of communications with the General Staff.
The US has a similar system: the Looking Glass that was airborne 24 hours/day until 1990. But, while it is still on continuous alert, it is no longer constantly airborne. And it doesn't simply grant command authority to someone that is expected to push the button without question.
LOL, of course, that was why I posted it! NO FIGHTING IN THE WAR ROOM!
Oh wow, Dr. Strangelove was on last night.
All too real.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Closed_city
“There are currently 42 publicly-acknowledged closed cities in Russia with a total population of about 1.5 million people. 75% are administered by the Russian Ministry of Defence, with the rest being administered by the Russian Federal Atomic Energy Agency, formerly the Ministry for Atomic Energy (Minatom).[2] Another 15 or so closed cities are believed to exist, but their names and locations have not been publicly disclosed by the Russian government.”
http://www.thebulletin.org/web-edition/features/the-rebirth-of-russias-closed-cities
“With Russian coffers swollen in recent years with profits from the country’s high-priced natural gas and oil reserves, however, the closed cities have begun to see their federal funding return and their agendas fill with new civilian scientific missions—especially in support of Moscow’s aggressive plans to become a major builder and exporter of nuclear energy-related technologies.”
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