The fall of the USSR chopped the legs out from under these stories. Nobody is worried about Iraq, Iran, or Afghanistan unleashing global thermonuclear war. That scare tactic just doesn't work. Even back in the 60s a lot of that paranoia was the result of internal propaganda.
replyThe world doesn't have enough nuclear weapons for "total nuclear annihilation".
replyTo end all humans with the weapons directly? Indeed not.
replyTo break all logistics chains, ending most industrial output, reducing carrying capacity back to the pre-industrial age? That I think is still doable.
Perhaps not, but there's no functional difference to the millions (hundreds of millions even) of victims if you start hitting major population centres.
replyThere's plenty enough to make the second-worst war in human history look like an enjoyable beach vacation by comparison.
reply