We begin bombing in five minutes
The saying We begin bombing in five minutes is a controversial joke of the US - President Ronald Reagan from 11 August 1984th
On August 11, 1984, the President of the United States, Ronald Reagan, prepared for his weekly Saturday address on public radio . During the audio test before his address, Reagan made the following joke:
“My fellow Americans, I'm pleased to tell you today that I've signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes. "
“My fellow Americans, I am pleased to announce today that I have signed a law that will forever declare Russia outlawed. We'll start the bombing in five minutes. "
The joke was a parody of the opening speech that day:
“My fellow Americans, I'm pleased to tell you that today I signed legislation that will allow student religious groups to begin enjoying a right they've been too long denied - the freedom to meet in public high schools during nonschool hours, just as other student groups are allowed to do. "
“My fellow Americans, I am delighted to announce today that I have signed a law that will allow student religious groups to enjoy a right that has been denied them for too long - the freedom to go outside public high schools during school time, just as other school groups are entitled to do so. "
Contrary to popular belief, the joke was not broadcast publicly but later leaked to the population. The Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun reported in October 1984 that the Far Eastern military district of the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union has been put on alert after rumors were known about the statement, and that the alert after 30 minutes was terminated. Congressman Michael D. Barnes confirmed this information with then Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger . There have been no reports of a change in the US DEFCON level.
Although this was not Reagan's first joke before a speech or address, the official Soviet news agency TASS strongly condemned the joke. She stated: "The USSR condemns this unprecedented and hostile attack by the US President" and "this type of behavior is incompatible with the great responsibility that the leaders of the nuclear states bear for the fate of their own people and humanity". The daily Pravda , then an organ of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union , commented that Reagan had "trumpeted what he always has in mind."
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Ronald Reagan: Radio Address to the Nation on Congressional Inaction on Proposed Legislation , Aug. 11, 1984
- ↑ Michael De Groote: Ronald Reagan's 10 Best Quotes , Deseret News, February 7, 2011
- ^ "Pentagon confirms Soviets were on war alert", In: Pacific Stars and Stripes , October 14, 1984, p. 4
- ^ Hugh Sidey: Lousy Bums and Other Asides , The Presidency, TIME, October 25, 1982
- ↑ Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Soviets assail Reagan for 'monstrous' joke , Aug. 16, 1984
- ^ Eugene Register-Guard: Soviets denounce Reagan's bombing 'joke' , Aug. 16, 1984
- ↑ Wiebke Junk: Five Minutes to the Third World War , August 10, 2009