Cold War nuclear policy was shrouded in secrecy from "summary" of The Doomsday Machine by Daniel Ellsberg
During the Cold War, the United States government intentionally kept much of its nuclear policy hidden from public view. This secrecy was not limited to the American public; even Congress was largely unaware of the true extent of the country's nuclear capabilities. The decision-making process surrounding nuclear weapons was shrouded in layers of classification and compartmentalization, with only a select few individuals privy to the full scope of information. The rationale behind this secrecy was rooted in the belief that keeping the public in the dark about nuclear strategy was necessary for national security. However, the unintended consequence of this approach was that it insulated decision-makers from oversight and accountability. Without transparency, there was little opportunity for public discourse or debate on the ethical and strategic implications of the country's nuclear posture. This lack of transparency also extended to US allies and adversaries alike. The Soviet Union, for example, had its own secretive nuclear policies, leading to a dangerous game of brinkmanship between the two superpowers. The dynamics of this nuclear arms race were further complicated by the development of increasingly destructive weapons, such as hydrogen bombs and intercontinental ballistic missiles. Daniel Ellsberg, a former Defense Department official, sheds light on the detrimental effects of this culture of secrecy in his book "The Doomsday Machine." Through his insider perspective, Ellsberg reveals the dangerous miscalculations and near misses that characterized the Cold War nuclear era. By exposing the hidden truths of US nuclear policy, Ellsberg challenges readers to confront the moral and existential questions raised by the existence of these weapons of mass destruction.- The veil of secrecy that surrounded Cold War nuclear policy had far-reaching consequences, both for the United States and the world at large. By keeping the public in the dark, decision-makers inadvertently placed the fate of humanity in the hands of a select few, with little oversight or accountability. Ellsberg's work serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of operating in the shadows when it comes to matters of such grave importance.
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