Illustrative of the Soviet's paranoia - and the closest call of a nuclear confrontation since the Cuban missile crisis – is what occurred during the NATO exercise "Able Archer" of 1983, that simulated a coordinated nuclear release.
Following a two-year buildup of multiple incidents, including deploying Pershing II's in Europe and special PSYOP missions, the Soviets, through their paranoia and some faulty intelligence of their operation RYAN (Nuclear Missile Attack), truly believed a genuine nuclear first strike against them was imminent. And of course, the best defense for an imminent, first strike would be___________ .
Google Able Archer or Operation Ryan, or read about it here:
https://www.cia.gov/library/center-...nd-monographs/a-cold-war-conundrum/source.htm
Following a two-year buildup of multiple incidents, including deploying Pershing II's in Europe and special PSYOP missions, the Soviets, through their paranoia and some faulty intelligence of their operation RYAN (Nuclear Missile Attack), truly believed a genuine nuclear first strike against them was imminent. And of course, the best defense for an imminent, first strike would be___________ .
Google Able Archer or Operation Ryan, or read about it here:
https://www.cia.gov/library/center-...nd-monographs/a-cold-war-conundrum/source.htm