Unconventional writer Ellsberg in The Doomsday Machine reiterates the dangers of nuclear potential of countries that posses it and fierce ambition of those that want to obtain it. He is extremely fearful that the nuclear capability given at the disposal of human beings will one day result in catastrophe for human race.
Ellsberg secretly copied contents of the papers kept in the custody of RAND Corporation famously known as Pentagon Papers and spilt the beans. However, he comments that what those papers contain is just tip of the iceberg and says that the other papers available with him are extremely frightening.
He sounds grateful that world was spared nuclear calamity during the Cuban crisis and many more nuclear flashpoints that were stopped in the nick of time. But he worries that how long the human race remains lucky. The Doomsday Machine is very much alive and is particularly very near the US president who can order a nuclear Armageddon.
The author is more worried about the disproportionate distribution of nuclear strike powers apart from the president so much so that minor area commanders can send the missiles flying. He mentions that American nuclear policy is not really premised on retaliation to a foreign power’s attacks first but instead on America striking first.
Such an action will make the US a bad guy in the world. Ellsberg worries about given Donald Trump’s blustery musing aloud about why we don’t use all those beautiful weapons we have. He points out that first strike doctrine means abandoning the much-vaunted principle of “just war.” The Weekender
