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Unpreparedness Haunts U.S. President as Nuclear Missile Hurtles Toward Chicago
16 Nov
Summary
- Last president to participate in nuclear decision-making exercise was Reagan
- Interceptor missiles have only 61% success rate in striking incoming warheads
- Movie sparks much-needed conversation about the nuclear threat
In the Netflix movie "A House of Dynamite," released last month, the U.S. president, played by Idris Elba, is faced with the unimaginable task of deciding the fate of humanity as a nuclear missile hurtles toward Chicago. The film's screenwriter, Noah Oppenheim, and director, Kathryn Bigelow, have drawn on their extensive research to create a chilling depiction of the decision-making process in the face of such a catastrophic event.
One of the most alarming revelations from their research is the fact that the last president to participate in a nuclear decision-making exercise was Ronald Reagan, even though other parts of the chain of command practice these scenarios hundreds of times a year. This lack of presidential preparedness is a stark contrast to the high-stakes nature of the decision the president must make.
