OPINION:
Cavalier talk of a possible “nuclear war” between the U.S, and Russia has become fashionable in the mainstream media as the Ukraine matter continues without a neat and convenient ending. The Cold War appears to be all the rage. Some of that coverage adds a couple of kilotons of agenda as well.
“That very real threat of nuclear war seems a long time ago. But watching developments this week, it was hard not to think about those bad old days of the cold war,” ABC News correspondent Martha Raddatz declared in a special video segment that aired Sunday during “This Week with George Stephanopolous”.
She was intent on some drama while profiling U.S. Air Force officers who man intercontinental ballistic missile silos.
“Across the frozen plains of our country are scattered 450 of them - nuclear-tipped missiles that could destroy the world, still manned every hour of every day,” Ms. Raddatz said. “Each missile silo is connected, along with nine others, to a control capsule nearby, buried 60 feet underground. Behind blast doors, inside five foot thick concrete walls, launch officers have their fingers on the nuclear trigger.”
Uh-oh.
She added, “The young officers are on alert duty eight times a month, all alone, underground for 24 hours. It’s not the most exciting job in the military, even though it comes with an unbelievable responsibility.That pressure has been overwhelming for some. The nuclear force has been plagued with scandals: cheating, drugs, alcohol abuse, gambling. But the mission goes on.”
Yes, well. Perhaps Ms. Raddatz should look up the history of “Operation Looking Glass”.
Someone else had a different take on it all, however. It was Sarah Palin who had a message for the White House regarding America’s stature on the planet during her speech before the Conservative Political Action Conference.
“Mr. President, The only thing that can stop a bad guy with a nuke is a good guy with a nuke,” she told the enthusiastic crowd, who obviously recalled National Rifle Association president Wayne La Pierre’s statement following the Newtown shootings in 2012:
“The only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.”
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