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1950s U.S. Nuclear Target List Offers Chilling Insight
The New York Times ^ | 12/21/15 | Scott Shane

Posted on 12/23/2015 9:11:31 AM PST by mrbinga

WASHINGTON — Target category No. 275 from the nuclear target list for 1959 may be the most chilling. It is called simply “Population.”

For the first time, the National Archives and Records Administration has released a detailed list of the United States’ potential targets for atomic bombers in the event of war with the Soviet Union, showing the number and the variety of targets on its territory, as well as in Eastern Europe and China.

It lists many targets for “systematic destruction” in major cities, including 179 in Moscow (like “Agricultural Equipment” and “Transformers, Heavy”), 145 in Leningrad and 91 in East Berlin. The targets are referred to as DGZs or “designated ground zeros.” While many are industrial facilities, government buildings and the like, one for each city is simply designated “Population.”

(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government; Miscellaneous
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To: tanknetter

As we reduce our nuclear weapons counts, I think about the things you mention here.

I also consider missile shields, and don’t like the idea we’re reducing our warheads to the point that it could become problematic.

What’s your take on that?


41 posted on 12/23/2015 10:08:03 AM PST by DoughtyOne ((It's beginning to look like "Morning in America" again. Comment on YouTube under Trump Free Ride.))
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To: Vince Ferrer

“Can we have a new year’s resolution to stop writing the word “chilling” in every other headline?”

Very true. It’s become as over-used in the MSM as the word “RINO” is here on Free Republic.


42 posted on 12/23/2015 10:08:11 AM PST by MplsSteve
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To: Robert A. Cook, PE

“The second and third will be over top of Mecca. Then Medina.”

Then Teheran. Then Riyadh. Then Beirut. Then Cairo, etc. etc. etc.

If the Israelis feel like they’re going down, they’re gonna take as many with them as they can.


43 posted on 12/23/2015 10:10:24 AM PST by MplsSteve
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To: larryjohnson

Major Kong’s plane’s primary target is an ICBM complex at Laputa. In Jonathan Swift’s 1726 novel ‘Gulliver’s Travels’, Laputa is a place inhabited by caricatures of scientific researchers. It’s also a play on words: “la puta” is Spanish slang for “prostitute.”

From IMDB


44 posted on 12/23/2015 10:11:02 AM PST by Slicksadick (We accept the love we think we deserve.)
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To: The Antiyuppie

The exact opposite actually.

Yes, there would have been tens of millions killed immediately by the first-second-third-fourth blast of A-bombs over cities and other targets. Tens of millions more later from outside-the-blast-fire and blast effects. Tens of millions after that from hunger, thirst, sickness, and “conventional” death by disasters and problems.

But many dozens of millions NOT in immediate nor long term danger from the blasts. Even in Siberia last year, most injuries would have been prevented by a simple duck-and-cover (stay away from windows after a sudden white flash!) A-bomb blast training.

Bomb shelters, distance, and simple civil defense preparations were being thrown away by disdain by the liberal-socialist-communist media and academia elites then (and still are now!) BECAUSE they are effective.


45 posted on 12/23/2015 10:15:01 AM PST by Robert A Cook PE (I can only donate monthly, but socialists' ABBCNNBCBS continue to lie every day!)
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To: Vince Ferrer
How about "bombshell?"

:-)

46 posted on 12/23/2015 10:15:11 AM PST by mykroar ("Never believe anything until it has been officially denied." - Otto von Bismarck)
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To: DoughtyOne

Forgot to add a key point.

The “unilateral disarmament” nonsense was created and fomented by the Soviets. Western Leftists were just the useful idiots that promoted it.

The reason the Sovs invested so heavily in it was they knew that even a slight reduction in the Western arsenal would improve their own survivability enormously.

The Pershings and GLCMs scared the hell out of them, because they meant we could first-strike their command and control faster than they could put out their own launch orders. Throw on SDI/Star Wars and we’d have the ability to intercept any of there missiles that were launched. Which wouldn’t be enough to overwhelm SDI because the Sovs (not trusting their own people) had much tighter/less permissive launch controls than we did,


47 posted on 12/23/2015 10:15:24 AM PST by tanknetter
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To: DoughtyOne

Just saw your post on missile defense, I think I may have answered it in my last?


48 posted on 12/23/2015 10:18:24 AM PST by tanknetter
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To: The Antiyuppie

Bomb/fallout shelters for airbursts, even in the multi-megaton range, weren’t a bad idea. They wouldn’t have provided 100% survivability, but would have increased chances significantly.

It’s close-in groundbursts that made bomb shelters ineffective.


49 posted on 12/23/2015 10:22:49 AM PST by tanknetter
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To: DoughtyOne
It’s a precursor to trashing ‘our detestable’ actions during the cold war.

I disagree. This isn't just about detestable actions from the Cold-War. It is about further reductions in our current nuclear forces. This has been a long term goal of the left and continues.

Regards,

TS

50 posted on 12/23/2015 10:24:06 AM PST by The Shrew (www.wintersoldier.com; www.tstrs.com; The Truth Shall Set You Free!)
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To: frog in a pot

If you are referring to the situation right now, I think MAD doctrine is seriously compromised. I also doubt that the Jarrett puppet in the White Hut would ever push the button, unless it was to defend Mecca or Tehran against Joos.


51 posted on 12/23/2015 10:26:42 AM PST by Defiant (RINOs are leaders of a party without voters. Trump/Cruz are leaders of voters without a party.)
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To: DoughtyOne
"Hey, we won it NYT. Get over it!"

The Cold Was was won at the close of the Reagan presidency. However I think one could argue that that victory has been squandered away by every administration since then.

52 posted on 12/23/2015 10:28:27 AM PST by buckalfa (I am feeling much better now.)
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To: Defiant

The Israelis are perfectly capable of providing their own, in house, nuclear deterrant.

And I’m guessing that, given their strategic situation, they lean a lot more towards counter-value in their planning.


53 posted on 12/23/2015 10:29:43 AM PST by tanknetter
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To: tanknetter

Thanks. Interesting points...


54 posted on 12/23/2015 10:36:38 AM PST by DoughtyOne ((It's beginning to look like "Morning in America" again. Comment on YouTube under Trump Free Ride.))
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To: tanknetter

Okay, thank you.


55 posted on 12/23/2015 10:37:47 AM PST by DoughtyOne ((It's beginning to look like "Morning in America" again. Comment on YouTube under Trump Free Ride.))
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To: Hulka

“We can only hope so, but with The Messiah holding the nuclear football, never would happen.”

The second and third would have nothing to do with USA launch codes. Not all of Israeli counter measures are in Israel, but are always on standby.


56 posted on 12/23/2015 10:38:47 AM PST by wrench
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To: The Shrew

I agree with that also.


57 posted on 12/23/2015 10:38:49 AM PST by DoughtyOne ((It's beginning to look like "Morning in America" again. Comment on YouTube under Trump Free Ride.))
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To: buckalfa

I agree with that.


58 posted on 12/23/2015 10:39:13 AM PST by DoughtyOne ((It's beginning to look like "Morning in America" again. Comment on YouTube under Trump Free Ride.))
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To: Vince Ferrer

“Can we have a new year’s resolution to stop writing the word “chilling” in every other headline?”

Understand your sentiment. On this end, one of two things has to happen; either crime ceases or the phrase “shots rang out” has to be banned from the news. “Shots” has become wearisome.


59 posted on 12/23/2015 10:44:05 AM PST by Huaynero
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To: tumblindice
"I must confess, you have an astonishingly good idea there, Doctor"

Yes, a brilliant idea....

60 posted on 12/23/2015 10:46:15 AM PST by Mariner (War Criminal #18 - Be The Leaderless Resistance)
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