The Pentagon Wants to Spend $141 Billion on a Doomsday Machine
Jul 23, 2024
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The podcast delves into the Pentagon's controversial plan to spend $141 billion on upgrading outdated and potentially dangerous ICBM silos. It raises questions about the effectiveness and necessity of these doomsday machines, discussing their role in national defense strategy and the ethical implications of maintaining them.
Refurbishing ICBM silos for a doomsday machine lacks practical military value.
Investing in nuclear weapons reflects fear-driven diplomacy emphasizing strength over practicality.
Deep dives
The Pentagon's Plan for Doomsday Machine
The Pentagon plans to refurbish ICBM silos, spending billions of dollars to modernize them despite concerns over cost overruns and their questionable strategic value. The goal is to build a doomsday machine that experts consider outdated and useless, originating from Cold War ideologies of nuclear deterrence. The refurbishment involves the construction of new missiles called Sentinels, renovation of silos, and additional infrastructure, leading to significant financial and environmental implications.
Implications of Sentinel Program
The Sentinel program raises concerns about its impact on communities, as it involves substantial engineering projects requiring temporary workers, construction of new facilities, and housing arrangements. Communities fear the social consequences similar to those experienced during previous booms, with opposition arising from tribal lands and local residents. This program highlights the unnecessary nature of land-based ICBMs compared to more effective sea-based submarines and stealth bombers that can deliver nuclear retaliation.
Fear as a Motivator for Nuclear Deterrence
The continued investment in nuclear weapons, such as the Sentinel program, is driven by a mindset of fear and the need for a formidable nuclear deterrent to maintain diplomatic leverage. The belief that a strong nuclear arsenal is essential for international influence underscores a dangerous perspective on global power dynamics, emphasizing the willingness to employ destructive capabilities for strategic purposes. The justification for maintaining such weapons extends beyond practicality, focusing on perceptions of strength and deterrence in international relations.
The DOD wants to refurbish ICBM silos that give it the ability to end civilization. But these missiles are useless as weapons, and their other main purpose—attracting an enemy’s nuclear strikes—serves no end.