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If Soviet Russia were to fire over this zone with nuclear weapons directed at France, or if, conversely, the Americans or the French were to fire over this territory with nuclear weapons towards Russia, the resulting radioactive clouds would be driven into this territory by the west winds from the one side, and the east winds from the other, and the Soviet Union could certainly not request the winds to keep to a specific path.

Anastas Mikoyan#4

Soviet unionEnvironmentFranceNuclear weaponsPhysicsWar

About this quote

What does it mean?
Mikoyan highlights the futility of nuclear war by noting wind patterns would spread radiation regardless of who fired first.
In plain terms
Nuclear war would harm everyone because wind blows both ways.
What can you take from it?
Nuclear conflict has no winner due to shared risks.

Where it applies

  • peace talks
  • defense strategy
  • scientific debate

Putting it to work

  • policy argument
  • educational material
  • strategic review

Questions to consider

  • Does nature dictate the outcome of human conflict?
  • Can physics prevent political violence?

Another view

It assumes wind patterns are the only factor in nuclear fallout spread.

More from Anastas Mikoyan

  1. If Stalin could only see us now, with the American Ambassador here, he'd turn in his grave.

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  2. Ordinary people abroad take a better attitude toward men who come as guests with their wives. And if they are accompanied by other members of their family, tha…

    Permalink to quote #3
  3. We are watching the Germans closely; we are not forgetting what they did to us during the war.

    Permalink to quote #6

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