The opening sentences of Annie Jacobsen’s book, “Nuclear War: A Scenario” haunt and pique the senses.
A 1-megaton thermonuclear weapon detonation begins with a flash of light and heat so tremendous it is impossible for the human mind to comprehend.
The prologue and the next 2 chapters discuss the history of the US’s plan to launch nuclear weapons at Russia and the real effects of the atomic bomb blast over Hiroshima. Most concerning (and admittedly upsetting) was that the US kept the effects of the bomb on Japanese citizens confidential to avoid enemies learning of the effects. I visited Nagasaki’s atom bomb museum a decade ago, the images are real and horrific — what’s the justification for keeping that confidential?
I’m not doing a good job at keeping myself open minded as I’m reading; I’m hoping to improve that as I read. To help me, I’m asking myself curious questions:
What was going on around the world in 1957?
If I had to be a realist international relations theorist, how would I assure my state’s security? (Reading “The Prince” helps here)
What are the tradeoffs I likely considered as an army intelligence officer when I decided to keep the effects of the atom bomb confidential? How might I justify these tradeoffs?
It’s easy to critique history decades later. It’s much a much more generous act to try and inhabit the mind of people who lived long ago and attempt to see the world from their eyes. I’ll give myself more time and put in more effort to make that effort for the people who lived during that time.
Historical empathy aside, I’ll also say that the author’s description of a nuclear blast and immediate aftermaths are scary. And it’s not the author’s description — it’s this little note: “This scenario — of what the moments after an inbound nuclear missile launch could look like — is based on facts sourced from exclusive interviews with presidential advisors, cabinet members, nuclear weapons engineers, scientists, soldiers, airmen, special operators, Secret Service, emergency management experts, intelligence analysts, civil servants and others who have worked on these macabre scenarios over decades.”
Honestly — this is likely going to be the one of the best books I’ve read in a while.