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Soviets Built a Doomsday Machine; It's Still Alive
An anonymous reader points out a story in Wired introducing us to the Doomsday Machine built by the Soviet Union in the 1980s — and that remains active to this day. It was called "Perimeter." The article explains why the device was built, and why the Soviets considered it to be something that kept the peace, even though they never told the US about it. "[Reagan's] strategy worked. Moscow soon believed the new US leadership really was ready to fight a nuclear war. But the Soviets also became convinced that the US was now willing to start a nuclear war. ... A few months later, Reagan... announced that the US was going to develop a shield of lasers and nuclear weapons in space to defend against Soviet warheads. ... To Moscow it was the Death Star — and it confirmed that the US was planning an attack. ... By guaranteeing that Moscow could hit back, Perimeter was actually designed to keep an overeager Soviet military or civilian leader from launching prematurely during a crisis. The point, [an informant] says, was 'to cool down all these hotheads and extremists. No matter what was going to happen, there still would be revenge. Those who attack us will be punished.'"
What's the point of building a Doomsday machine if you don't tell everyone about it?
First, where's the Dr Strangelove tag?
Second, (as Dr Strangelove pointed out) a doomsday machine only makes sense as a deterent if both sides know about it. Why wasn't the machine made public earlier when the Soviets thought that the US was about to launch an attack?
Third, no worries. A small, controlled population with a ratio of 1 male to 10 females properly sheltered will be able to keep society going. Naturally, the females will need to be chosen for their attractiveness and the males for the knowledge and skills they know (I'm thinking lots of engineers will be needed so sign me up).
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8316692185126189734
the missiles sense you!
You only need one if it is designed right.
The system remains so shrouded that Yarynich worries his continued openness puts him in danger. He might have a point: One Soviet official who spoke with Americans about the system died in a mysterious fall down a staircase.
polonium-210 milkshake anyone?
Lol! That's unlikely, unless these systems are THOROUGHLY tested before put in place...
Ah but before you get too comfortable with your government assigned harem - and do you really want women whose "attractiveness" is determined by a committee? (oh wait this is Slashdot...)
But before you get started on repopulating the planet, you have to deal with the mine shaft gap.
You either believe in rational thought or you don't
The article says there is a checklist he is supposed to follow too
I'm a little too tired to do it today, but hopefully some other slashdotters will come up with some speculation as to what exactly was on that checklist. Oh I'll give it a shot...
I like how the rest of Asia (40% of the world population), Mexico, and Central/South America (9%) constitute 10% in your worldview.
Kudos for throwing Africa in as 20%, even though it's closer to 14%. This may be the first time anyone has actually overestimated the influence of Africa.
So there are a metric buttload of missiles lying around all over The Former Soviet Union, just waiting for coded radio signals that will launch them.
Ah, yes - the good ol' metric buttload... It's worth noting that this is significantly larger than what Americans call the "Standard" buttload...
Bow-ties are cool.
Ah, so *you're* responsible for all the mutant ducks in my neighbourhood:
http://www.reallyfunnypictures.co.uk/animals/pic41.php
Or they'll be thousands of years ahead of us in technology and will only surrender on the brink of total victory in Earth orbit because of some crazy religious revelation....
I want peace on earth and goodwill toward man.
We are the United States Government! We don't do that sort of thing.
A decade after Reagan the USSR collapsed dramatically loosing the Cold War...
Well, then tell them to tighten it back up!
I see even classic Slashdot is now pretty much unusable on dial up anymore.
So there are a metric buttload of missiles lying around all over The Former Soviet Union, just waiting for coded radio signals that will launch them.
Firstly, the metric buttload of missiles are exactly the same missiles that would be launched in a non-Perimeter strike, if I understand the article correctly -- Perimeter is just an alternative way to transmit launch authorisation. This probably means that the normal warhead arming procedures would have to be carried out, probably as part of step 1 of arming the Perimeter system. So, no, the missiles are not sitting there armed at all times, waiting for a coded signal -- that would be silly and dangerous.
Well, that's how I'd do it, anyway.
Pirate Party UK
Go study WWII and then come tell me you'd prefer that over these minor wars we're facing. 100 million dead and the complete obliteration of several countries.
Now take a nap or somesing.
I must have missed something. When was the first one discovered?
And you sir forgot Grand Fenwick, the only other power (along with the Soviet Union it seems from this new revelation) that holds a doomsday device!
Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent. Polar Scope Align for iOS
While that is a good idea, choose wisely your atheists, watch out for nihilists, they might not even care.
I like how the rest of Asia (40% of the world population), Mexico, and Central/South America (9%) constitute 10% in your worldview.
Kudos for throwing Africa in as 20%, even though it's closer to 14%. This may be the first time anyone has actually overestimated the influence of Africa.
Clearly the results were weighted using dicksize.
yes you are correct, if the united states learned to cast magical spells the USSR would have been screwed.
Snowden and Manning are heroes.
When elephants fight, it's the grass that suffers.
Is this just some "Americans are fat" joke?
Posts not to be taken literally. Almost everything is sarcasm.