Talks to Watch

McNamara meets with Castro (Fog of War)

52K views · Dec 18, 2011 · 1:35 · 1 HN recommender · 3 mentions · discussed 2018–2024

A two-minute clip from the documentary The Fog of War in which Robert McNamara recalls Fidel Castro explaining how close the world came to nuclear war during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Why Hacker News points people here: Cited in nuclear-risk threads as evidence that Castro was ready to use nuclear weapons and accept the consequences.

“Castro was certainly ready to use them and certainly ready to suffer the consequences.”HN comment, 2021

What Hacker News said 3

RecommendsmeeeJan 2018

“The movie this clip is from and the companion book are much more detailed about the realities of the time”

Clip from Fog of War on the realities of the era

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Maybe that was the conventional wisdom at the time. Later we found out that wasn’t as true as we would hope. this video The movie this clip is from and the companion book are much more detailed about the realities of the time and the though processes of those world leaders.

in “Scientists move Doomsday Clock ahead to 2 minutes to midnight” · view on HN
Cites itchasd00Sep 2021

“Castro was certainly ready to use them and certainly ready to suffer the consequences.”

Castro ready to use nuclear weapons

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During the Cuban Missile Crisis Castro was certainly ready to use them and certainly ready to suffer the consequences. Clip from Fog of War this video

in “Nuclear War Survival Skills (1987)” · view on HN
Cites it2OEH8eoCRo0Oct 2024

“Castro said he would have nuked the US if he could and didn't care if Cuba gets destroyed.”

Castro said he would have nuked the US

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What if a fanatical leader has them? Castro said he would have nuked the US if he could and didn't care if Cuba gets destroyed. this video

in “Nobel Peace Prize for 2024 awarded to Nihon Hidankyo” · view on HN