Part Five: The Men Who Might Have Killed Us All

Blind Man's Bluff by Michael Adams is a novel that explores themes of rivalry and growth in rural Texas. The story follows Slats Threadgill as he navigates these complexities. Detailed summaries are limited, but it is known to be a first edition published in 1982.

In 'Nuclear War: A Scenario', Annie Jacobsen presents a meticulously researched and chilling scenario of a nuclear war. The book begins with a surprise nuclear attack by North Korea on the United States, triggering a cascade of events that involve multiple nations and lead to catastrophic consequences. Jacobsen draws on exclusive interviews with military and civilian experts, as well as recently declassified government reports, to outline the minute-by-minute unfolding of a nuclear conflict. The book highlights the dangers of the 'Launch on Warning' policy, the inadequacy of current nuclear defenses, and the devastating impact on global civilization, including the immediate destruction, long-term environmental damage, and the eventual collapse of societal structures. Jacobsen's work serves as a call to action for disarmament and a stark reminder of the existential threat posed by nuclear weapons.

In 'Bombing to Win', Robert A. Pape examines over thirty air campaigns to argue that coercive airpower can succeed by targeting an enemy's military strategy rather than its economy or population. The book provides detailed narratives of airpower use in World War II, the Gulf War, and other conflicts, concluding that airpower is no 'magic bullet' for winning wars inexpensively.