Dr. Just as Strangelove cautiously drew attention to the possibility of World War III in the ’60s, Netflix’s recent release of “A House of Dynamite” does the same, but more heartbreakingly so.
The movie shows that it is impossible to predict how the situation will unfold in a crisis that could lead to nuclear war. There are too many variables, and the top leader who takes the initiative is ultimately human. But more importantly, the pros and cons of pushing a button force people into unpredictable situations while creating unpredictable problems. This means that even when the facts are not discussed (in the film, no one can tell whether the Russians are behind the missiles trying to destroy Chicago), there is a risk of war, and an even greater possibility of (in the words of one of the main characters) “suicide.”
The key characters in the film who influence the final decision on whether to attack Russia or not are all intelligent and responsible in their own way. Compare this to the current situation of someone in the White House surrounded by people like Hegseth and Marco Rubio. The situation is more precarious than ever.
People should see this movie and talk about it. Light talk about the use of nuclear weapons has become the new norm. In that sense, the situation today is much worse than it was at the height of the Cold War, when everyone knew what was at stake. Trump’s recent announcement of the resumption of nuclear bomb testing did not elicit the response it deserved. Democratic lawmakers did not even mention this. Gavin Newsom did, but dismissed it as half a tough guy story. Russia has 4,309 nuclear warheads, the United States has 4,309, and China has about 600. This means that despite its isolated geographical location, the United States is not safe in any sense.
This issue needs to be raised by those on the ground. Because the corporate media (which is part of the military-industrial complex) clearly cannot be trusted to foster serious conversation about this issue. It is up to us, our people, to do so.
