The Threat: Inside the Soviet Military Machine

by Andrew Cockburn

This book is recommended for any of those who wish to know about what is really going on behind the Iron Curtain and the Soviet Regime.

Genres: History, Military Fiction, Military History, Russia, Nonfiction, War

400 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

Andrew Cockburn is the Washington Editor of Harper's magazine and the author of many articles and books on national security, including the New York Times Editor's Choice Rumsfeld and The Threat, which destroyed the myth of Soviet military superiority underpinning the Cold War. He is a regular opinion contributor to the Los Angeles Times and has written for, among others, the New York Times, National Geographic and the London Review of Books.

Reviews

[Paulo · Rating 4 out of 5]

In his superb book, Cockburn recounts the history of the Soviet threat and how it was perceived by the West back in the 80s. He documents the multiple ways in which those perceptions were manipulated—sometimes by the Soviets themselves—to further multiple agendas promoted by everyone from the U.S. presidency to petty Russian bureaucrats.

The book includes graphic accounts of Soviet weakness and incompetence at all levels—from flawed ICBM design to crass politicking to murdered recruits. To demonstrate these facts, Cockburn interviewed U.S. officials and Soviet expats in the United States. The latter’s first-hand accounts of life in the Soviet armed forces not only strongly support the author’s points, but also give the book a human touch. Some of their stories are so bizarre they made me think of J.B.S Haldane’s saying, “the world is queerer than we can suppose.”

Some of the vices recounted by Cockburn remain with us. The reader in 2021 will recognize both the bloated militarism spawned by the Cold War and the all-too-human fears, frailties and perfidy which have been with us forever. Since these problems need to be understood and tackled, Cockburn’s book not only is a good read, but remains relevant today.

[philipy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this back in the 80s when the Cold War was very much still with us. Despite the title the book is actually more about how the perception of the threat was arrived at, with a major theme being that the true threat was being greatly exaggerated, both in terms of Soviet intentions and their capability. One memorable line talked about how in a certain model Soviet tank, the gun mechanism was prone to loading the gunner rather than the shell. The insights continue to be relevant in terms of how present day threats are perceived.

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this book after enjoying Cockburn's recent book, "Kill Chain." I was curious to see if Cockburn had gotten the Soviet Union correct. He sure did, rightfully pointing out all the problems with the structure of the military, the poor quality of the military personnel and the weapons.

[Andrew Conlon · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Insert outrage about military-industrial complex here]

Excellent and funny book but I wish I could fix some of the typos.

I agree with the thesis but disagree with some of the methods - not sure if that makes me more informed, or just stupid.

I plan to read more of his work because he's obviously a very sharp guy.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has sat on my reference shelf for decades! Dyed in the wool “cold warrior” in the 80’s but now painfully (a laughably) obvious we were sold a massive con-job by the Military-Industrial-Congressional complex… I get the impression they they are still conning us with the Ukraine sob-story

[Josh Liller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating insights from the early 1980s on the Cold War and what might happen if World War III had broken out. The book gave me the impression it probably would have been a real clusterfuck as the technology of both sides was not actually as good or as functional as they tried to make it seem.