How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #1
"This time, they're not resigning the game. They'd still like to win the war without a war, but if we make any military countermove, we're going to receive it." (2.80)
In other words, global politics is like playing chicken with ballistic missiles. Some might argue that this is exactly the point—that the constant threat of nuclear weapons makes it unlikely that they will ever be used—but Alas, Babylon argues the complete opposite.
Quote #2
"They don't mind losing ten or twenty million people, so long as they sweep the board, because people, per se, are only pawns, and expendable." (2.84)
Here's the reality: a nuclear war would cause millions upon millions of deaths on both sides. Here's another reality: that's just part of the game for the chess-masters at the top. As long as those millions of deaths are in pursuit of some "greater" victory, that's just how you pick up the win, right?
Quote #3
At this point Peewee should have dropped the chase, for they had been strictly warned, in the briefing, against violating anyone's border. [...] He pushed the firing button." (4.45,48)
The nuclear war that nearly ends mankind is singlehandedly caused by an American pilot with a Napoleon complex. If Peewee hadn't become a pilot—no war. If Peewee had been sick that day—no war. If Peewee had tripped and fallen into the ocean while boarding his plane—no war. To be honest, however, if it wasn't him, it'd probably be someone else.