The hottest Cold War Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top World Politics Topics

Commentator

Castalia • 99 implied HN points • 11 Jan 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Cold War
  1. Free speech is a hot topic, especially in schools. There are big debates about what should be allowed, and many believe we need to follow the rules of free speech laid out in the Constitution.
  2. In Ukraine, the fighting continues with no clear resolution in sight. While there are talks of peace, both sides seem determined to keep fighting, making it hard to reach an agreement.
  3. Science is struggling to make big breakthroughs, especially in areas like Alzheimer's research. Many believe that instead of finding new solutions, scientists are mostly just making small improvements.

ESPionage: When the CIA Attempted Telepathy (Project Stargate)

Tripsitter • 39 implied HN points • 15 Jun 23
💾 History Cold War
  1. Two scientists convinced the CIA to fund research on telepathic ability in 1973, believing it could be used for spying on other nations.
  2. The feds funded the research secretly as 'Project Stargate' for almost 20 years, with strange and unexplainable successes in the program.
  3. Former President Jimmy Carter leaked the existence of the research in 1995, leading to the end of 'Project Stargate.'

The collapse of the Soviet Union: no one knew the numbers

Demodexio • 132 implied HN points • 01 Jan 24
💾 History Cold War
  1. The collapse of the Soviet Union involved top leadership being blind to the country's financial facts.
  2. Soviet economic data was unreliable and widely fudged, making it difficult to understand the economy.
  3. The CIA had to rely on their own estimates since even those in the Kremlin did not have accurate numbers on the Soviet economy.

History Unknown: The CIA Bought (and Changed) George Orwell's "Animal Farm"

JoeWrote • 46 implied HN points • 12 Dec 24
💾 History Cold War
  1. The CIA has been involved in many controversial and extreme actions, such as planning false flag attacks, making it hard to speak about American foreign policy without sounding extreme.
  2. George Orwell, under his real name Eric Arthur Blair, had a complicated political history, shaped in part by his experiences during the Spanish Civil War.
  3. Orwell's book 'Animal Farm' is not just about communism but a critique of the Soviet Union's style of governance, as he wanted to highlight its flaws rather than dismiss socialism altogether.

THE GENERAL WHO WOULD NOT BE SILENCED

Seymour Hersh • 48 implied HN points • 27 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Cold War
  1. James C. Pfautz had a successful military career, flying combat missions in Vietnam and holding high-ranking positions in Air Force intelligence.
  2. Pfautz was known to push his staff hard, aiming for excellence in the intelligence work they produced.
  3. An intriguing story revolves around the 1983 shootdown of Korean Air Lines Flight 007 by a Soviet pilot, highlighting the critical question of whether the pilot knew he was targeting a commercial airliner.
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YOU CAN’T TALK TO A PRESIDENT THAT WAY!

Seymour Hersh • 53 implied HN points • 23 Nov 23
🌍 World Politics Cold War
  1. President John F. Kennedy's legacy was overshadowed by his support for the war in South Vietnam.
  2. The Vietnam War saw devastation with millions of tons of bombs dropped, escalating under President Lyndon Johnson.
  3. Kennedy's diplomatic success with Khrushchev during the Cuban Missile Crisis was overshadowed by subsequent decisions made by Johnson during the Vietnam War.

History Unknown: The American Invasion of Soviet Russia

JoeWrote • 19 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24
💾 History Cold War
  1. American troops invaded Soviet Russia after World War I to displace the communist government.
  2. The American intervention in Soviet Russia during World War I left a lasting impact on the Soviet people and their allies.
  3. The Allied Powers, including the United States, aided the White faction in the Russian Civil War against the Bolsheviks.

BRICS? Can't Beat Em? Join Em?

C.O.P. Central Organizing Principle. • 6 implied HN points • 22 Oct 24
🌍 World Politics Cold War
  1. BRICS is creating a new way for countries to trade using their own currencies, setting a different standard from the Western-dominated forex market. This means countries like Zimbabwe can now better showcase and sell their resources.
  2. Western nations are starting to realize they need to adapt to this new order or else risk continued isolation and loss. This shift suggests they might ease tensions and reconsider their sanctions against BRICS countries.
  3. The growing influence of BRICS could lead to stronger relationships with non-Western countries, potentially hurting US dominance. However, there are discussions about fairness and reparations for past colonial actions that might complicate future dealings.

VOL 59: Behind Enemy Lines: When a US Spy Plane Was Shot Down Over the USSR

MAP's Tech Newsletter. • 9 implied HN points • 25 Apr 23
💾 History Cold War
  1. In 1960, an American U-2 spy plane was shot down over the Soviet Union, leading to tensions and significant consequences in US-Soviet relations.
  2. The U-2 spy plane was a top-secret aircraft used for high-altitude reconnaissance missions to gather intelligence behind the Iron Curtain.
  3. After the U-2 incident, the US government initially lied about the mission, but eventually had to admit it was a spying operation, leading to diplomatic fallout and a prisoner exchange.

VOL 60: Fidel Castro, The Cuban Leader Who Survived 600 Assassinations

MAP's Tech Newsletter. • 4 implied HN points • 05 May 23
💾 History Cold War
  1. Fidel Castro survived over 600 assassination attempts, including explosives in cigars and pistols disguised as cameras.
  2. Fidel Castro, known as the greatest foe of America, holds the record for delivering the longest UN speech.
  3. The CIA made numerous unsuccessful attempts to assassinate Castro, with different US presidents involved in the plots.

Example of a Point 2 Failure: Soviet Partners

The End(s) of Argument • 0 implied HN points • 16 Jul 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Cold War
  1. Linking JFK's speech about cooperation with the Soviets to his assassination is not a solid motive, as both leaders had to balance public perception during the Cold War.
  2. The idea that immediate proximal causes, like the timing of Kennedy's speech, hold special significance in geopolitics is problematic. Context plays a crucial role in assessing causality.
  3. Failure in argument structure can occur when the evidence provided does not adequately support the underlying warrant. In this case, the connection between Kennedy's speech and ending the Cold War is not well-founded.

Rumors of War & Technowar (Part 01)

Homo Ludens • 0 implied HN points • 02 Jan 22
💾 History Cold War
  1. The American war in Vietnam prompted the nation to question its government, leaders, and motives, showcasing the stain it left on the American psyche.
  2. Technowars like the one in Vietnam tested the limits of military power, demonstrating that even with advanced technology, victory is not guaranteed.
  3. Robert Strange McNamara's involvement in the technowar in Vietnam highlighted the flawed strategic concepts and reliance on quantitative analysis that led the U.S. into a costly and devastating conflict.

Hồ Chí Minh

Thái | Hacker | Kỹ sư tin tặc • 0 implied HN points • 22 May 15
🌍 World Politics Cold War
  1. Before the resistance against the French, Ho Chi Minh was highly admired for his patriotism and dedication to achieving independence for Vietnam.
  2. Ho Chi Minh's decision to align with China for fighting against the French was a major mistake that led to division and consequences that Vietnam continues to face.
  3. It's essential to think critically and not blindly believe everything we hear or read, especially in today's society where information can be manipulated.

Through the Looking Glass

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 07 Dec 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Cold War
  1. The movie 'Countdown to Looking Glass' shows a fake crisis that fits into Cold War themes. Even though it's old, the issues of terrorism and political instability are still relevant today.
  2. Gingrich compares the crisis to historical events but misses mentioning some key moments, like the Cuban missile crisis. This raises questions about the choice of examples used in the movie.
  3. The film ignores Congress's role in crisis situations, focusing only on the President's actions. This leaves out important discussions about legislative authority during national emergencies.

July 16, 1945, 5.29 a.m.

The Climate Historian • 0 implied HN points • 16 Jul 24
💾 History Cold War
  1. The Trinity Test on July 16, 1945, marked the beginning of the atomic age, significantly affecting global politics and raising serious ethical questions about atomic weapons.
  2. Residents living near the test site suffered from radiation sickness and increased infant mortality rates, as they were not warned about the dangers of the fallout.
  3. The fear of nuclear war persists today, with concerns about nuclear winter and the responsibility to push for the abolition of nuclear weapons to ensure global safety.

Spying in the Stratosphere

The Climate Historian • 0 implied HN points • 03 May 23
💾 History Cold War
  1. The Lockheed U-2 plane was used for spying during the Cold War and could fly very high, making it unique for its time. Pilots had to deal with tough conditions and were at risk if they didn't manage their speed correctly.
  2. Besides spying, the U-2 gathered important scientific data, including radioactive fallout from nuclear tests. This helped scientists understand air circulation and its effects on the environment.
  3. The development of the U-2 also led to advancements in satellite technology. Scientists realized that satellites could collect crucial data about the earth's atmosphere and weather patterns, paving the way for modern weather satellites.