#778 - Annie Jacobsen - Just How Likely Is A Global Nuclear War?
May 2, 2024
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Annie Jacobsen, an investigative reporter and author specializing in nuclear weapons and global security, delves into the terrifying reality of nuclear warfare. She discusses the staggering number of nuclear weapons globally and the chilling possibility of accidental launches. Jacobsen highlights how the actions of unstable leaders could lead to disaster, examines nuclear triads, and reveals the psychological pressures on decision-makers during crises. Her insights reveal the urgent need for communication between nations to de-escalate tensions and promote safety.
Approximately 12,500 nuclear warheads exist, overseen by the Federation of American Scientists; North Korea lacks transparency in its nuclear arsenal.
Major cities, minor cities, airports, and industrial bases are potential targets of nuclear attacks in the US and other nuclear-armed nations.
The US nuclear triad comprises land-based missile silos, submarine-launched ballistic missiles, and bomber aircraft for redundant deterrence capabilities.
Deep dives
Number of Nuclear Warheads in Existence
There are approximately 12,500 nuclear warheads in existence, with nine nuclear-armed nations being responsible for them. Verification of these numbers is overseen by the Federation of American Scientists' Nuclear Notebook Group, except for North Korea, which lacks transparency.
Targets of Nuclear Attacks
Potential targets of nuclear attacks include major cities, minor cities, airports, and industrial bases. According to experts, nuclear weapons are aimed at almost any city or location in the United States and other nuclear-armed nations.
US Nuclear Triad
The US nuclear triad consists of three components: land-based missile silos, submarine-launched ballistic missiles, and bomber aircraft. The system ensures redundancy and options for nuclear deterrence, with specific details on the strategic locations and capabilities of these components.
Presidential Response to Nuclear Threat
In the event of a nuclear threat, the president receives real-time updates from command centers like Cheyenne Mountain and must make critical decisions regarding a potential counterattack. The launch on warning policy requires immediate action following a credible threat to launch nuclear weapons.
Impact of Nuclear War
A nuclear war scenario leads to catastrophic consequences, including fires, blasts, radiation poisoning, and societal collapse, resulting in millions of casualties and triggering a nuclear winter. The aftermath of a nuclear exchange can lead to global climate disruption, mass starvation, and the end of human civilization.
Annie Jacobsen is a journalist, investigative reporter and an author.
The threat of nuclear war has loomed for over half a century now. But the question remains - just how close to nuclear armageddon are we and what would happen if the world went into a nuclear war.
Expect to learn how many nukes there are in the world right now, the most likely steps to an accidental nuclear war, what happens when a country fires the first nuke, which cities are the most likely targets of a nuclear strike, what the most powerful bomb in history was, how many people would die in a nuclear war between the US and Russia, how likely a nuclear war is in our future and much more...