odmarolsen
5 HN mentions · mentioned in 5 months, 2013–2026
5:52 · 792K views · Jan 5, 2008
A sketch from the British sitcom Yes, Prime Minister in which Jim Hacker and the chief scientific advisor discuss the logic of the nuclear deterrent.
HN commenters cite it as a funny but precise take on deterrence strategy and politics.
5 comments from Hacker News
It's very weird looking in from the outside. I mean, sure, the US is the dominant power and everything, so things like Iraq and Iran could be construed as just collateral damage from their imperial maneuvers. But it has just piled on, more and more, and even when they are hit right in the face with the massive bombing of NordStream, still practically nobody tries to draw any sort of line. Reminds me a bit of that 'Yes Prime Minister' sketch about nuclear deterrant, when the skeptical conversant asks the PM: "So what is the last resort, Picadilli?" this video
It's precisely the other way arround. This sketch is a humorous but precise assessment of this strategic issue: this video Relying on nuclear deterrent against modern hybrid warfare means you will lose.
Your solution (of tackling unemployment by tacking it onto national defense), is eerily close to what they discussed in an episode of Yes Prime Minister in the 80s. this video [LINK]
A better explanation in "Yes, Prime Minister": this video ... and perhaps relevant to the discussions of states tampering with other people's satellites.
So what would you do if a country with nuclear capabilities started attacking the US with conventional forces? Yes, Prime Minister has a funny scene about the nuclear deterrent: this video