The Pete Quiñones Show The Complete Cold War Series w/ Thomas777 - 1/3
Nov 8, 2025
Thomas777, a political commentator and Cold War historian, dives deep into the geopolitical nuances of the Cold War. He discusses why it's essential to start the narrative at the end, examining the impact of events like the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the complexities of U.S.-Soviet policy-making. Thomas explores the significance of Team B, critiques of intelligence, and the lessons from pivotal moments like the Cuban Missile Crisis. He even speculates on how different decisions could have altered the course of history, tying it all to contemporary issues like Ukraine.
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Cold War's End Shapes Today's Consensus
- Thomas777 argues today's unified Washington foreign-policy ideology stems from how the Cold War ended.
- Understanding détente's collapse and late-Cold War choices explains current U.S.-Russia strategic aims.
Tech Shrank Nuclear Decision Time
- Advances in surveillance and weapons in the 1970s shrank decision windows and made nuclear command-and-control fragile.
- That technological shift forced planners toward automated indicators and constrained presidential options.
Reforming SIOP Restored Civilian Control
- Carter ordered reform of the arcane SIOP to restore civilian authority and avoid leaving Strategic Air Command as de facto decision-maker.
- That reform led planners to assume the U.S. could fight and win a nuclear war, changing Cold War posture.
