Remembering those old school nuclear blast drills

The Hump Day Hot Topics

"God, give us men! A time like this demands strong minds, great hearts, true faith and Men whom the lust of office does not kill; Men who the spoils of office cannot buy; Men who possess opinions and a will; Men who have honor—Men who will not lie…” Words by Josiah Gilbert Holland, 19th Century American novelist

With World War III an ever present threat, allow Ol’ Hobbs to add to Holland’s opus: "God, give us rational, thinking, and compassionate men and women! God, give us men and women who are free from the toxicities that derive wicked political policy from their worst insecurities!"

Amen...

To begin, I have read many posts over the past two months from men and women who claim that the Russia-Ukraine War is "not their problem." Some Black posters, in particular, have suggested that the war is but the latest example of "white-on-white crime" and should be of no concern to Blacks and other people of color. 

If only that was totally true...

For those who have ignored the headlines from Ukraine as you deal with any number of other major issues here in the States or around the globe, trust me when I tell you that the Ukraine war is a mess, getting messier by the day, and could eventually mean a great deal to a great many Blacks and other people around the globe. 

Ukrainian forces firing American made missiles towards Russian troops

For starters, Russia is losing this war—period, full stop! And yet, most military experts, including U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, recognize that Russia's early losses are still offset by the numerical majority they hold over their Ukraine neighbors. 

What's worse is that while the Russia-Ukraine War bogs down into a deadly stalemate, as the number of Russian soldiers being shipped home in body bags increases, the greater the risk that an impatient Vladmir Putin may resort to using tactical nuclear weapons against Ukraine—or her NATO suppliers in Western Europe (and the U.S.)

Russian tank column in Ukraine

Now, if you rolled your eyes just now, or if you are thinking, "no way, Hobbs, Putin's not that crazy," it's important to note that the higher the economic stakes get in Europe, the greater the likelihood that European military powers—and the U.S.—may be dragged into this conflict. 

As to those economic stakes, earlier today, Russia cut off gas supplies to Poland in response to Western embargoes against Russian goods. This move comes during a period when the Russian economy may soon devolve into a deep recession; when the Russian people are struggling to eat or subsist, recent European history shows that folks are far more amenable to the autocratic whims of mad men if those whims can put food on the table and gas into cars and stoves. (See Germany circa 1922-39).

This last point is why I remain deeply concerned that as matters get tougher for the Russian military in Ukraine—and the Russian people at home—that Putin may resort to his trump card—a nuclear aresenal that is second only to the American nuclear arsenal! Having done my share of murder trials in the past,  such reminds me of young men who can't fight all that well with their fists, but if they are carrying a handgun, they will pull it and kill at will to save face! The same could go for Putin, a man whose forces are not as dominant as he suspected, but a man who has nukes that could change the game in an instant.

So, what should strong men and women in the West do to prevent nuclear war? First, while this may seem contrary to diplomacy, the war by proxy that the U.S. and her NATO allies is waging with Russia IS the best alternative at this time. According to today's Washington Post, in recent weeks, the West has delivered: "British armored vehicles fitted with anti-air missiles, Dutch armored howitzers and, significantly, Gepard self-propelled antiaircraft guns and antitank vehicles from Germany. Last week, President Biden announced another tranche of $800 million worth of military aid to Ukraine, including heavy artillery and advanced drones..."

Good, because the simple truth is that Western supplied weapons will help Ukrainians kill Russian soldiers, so as to prevent Western civilians and soldiers from being killed by Russians (or having to directly kill the same).

Second, I don't want to sound like the Biblical figure Noah, but folks who grew up in my era (and before) need to be reminding our kin and friends how to prepare for a possible nuclear war with Russia. Again, if you are rolling your eyes and laughing at Ol' Hobbs, please reconsider because I am dead serious about the deadly stakes that we all are facing the longer this war in Ukraine is waged. 

Initial nuclear blasts are very deadly, but the toxic nuclear fallout is far deadlier over time…

From storing non-perishable foods that can last for months, to remembering where is the best place in your home (or near your home) to ride out a potential nuclear blast and the cancer causing radioactive fallout, it is better to be prepared and not need to use that preparation, than to need that preparation and not have it!

In addition to food and water, remember that wi/fi and cell phone/electrical outages would be a given (get those transistor-ish radios with batteries folks)! Also, lest we forget that having proper (and ample) first aid supplies would be crucial to tend to burns and other wounds due to the fact that local hospitals will be overfilled and understaffed; I implore you all to add these items to your home arsenals in the event that missiles and bombs start bursting in mid-air. 

I remember these “duck and cover” drills like they just happened; Many local schools, especially gymnasia with no windows, could serve as fallout shelters in the event of a nuclear war…

Make no mistake—I still hold out hope that some type of truce will finally bring peace to Ukraine. This hope is not because I have any personal ties to Ukraine, but because I have a vested interest in my life and the lives of my kin and friends who could be in jeopardy all due to some beef that has absolutely nothing to do with us. But I also remain a watcher on the cyber wall, so to speak, so that my readers can remain well informed about Russia's foolish invasion—and the prospects of global (nuclear) war stemming from Putin's folly!

Thank you for subscribing to the Hobbservation Point—have a great day!