Ellsberg became convinced of the dangers of nuclear weapons from "summary" of The Doomsday Machine by Daniel Ellsberg
Daniel Ellsberg's understanding of the dangers posed by nuclear weapons evolved over time. As a young military analyst, he was initially tasked with assessing the strategic value of these weapons during the Cold War. However, as he delved deeper into the inner workings of the nuclear establishment, he began to see the inherent risks and potential consequences of a nuclear conflict. Ellsberg's time at the RAND Corporation provided him with a unique perspective on the decision-making processes surrounding nuclear weapons. He witnessed firsthand the cavalier attitudes of policymakers and military officials towards the use of these weapons, as well as the lack of accountability and oversight in their deployment. The Cuban Missile Crisis served as a wake-up call for Ellsberg, highlighting the fragility of the nuclear balance and the potential for catastrophic miscalculation. The brinkmanship displayed by leaders on both sides during the crisis underscored the dangers of relying on nuclear weapons as a deterrent. As Ellsberg delved deeper into the details of nuclear war planning, he was shocked by the sheer scale of destruction that would result from a nuclear exchange. The targeting strategies and escalation scenarios outlined in nuclear war plans painted a grim picture of the aftermath of a nuclear war, one that would leave the planet uninhabitable for generations to come.- Ellsberg came to the realization that the so-called "nuclear deterrent" was a dangerous illusion, one that offered a false sense of security while increasing the risk of global annihilation. His growing awareness of the dangers of nuclear weapons propelled him to take action, risking his freedom to expose the truth about the doomsday machine that humanity had created.
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