Tough Guys and Cool Heads

Far Middle episode 175 returns to the rink with a tribute to Bob Probert for this week’s sports dedication. Probert is widely considered the greatest hockey enforcer in NHL history and could play both ends of the ice, scoring 20 to 30 goals per season. “Probie” played primarily for the Detroit Red Wings and was known for his intimidating presence—tallying 232 fights and 3,300 penalty minutes over 16 NHL seasons. Nick calls Probert “the greatest of a dying, and perhaps already dead, breed.”

Drawing a parallel from Probert's role as a deterrent on the ice, Nick connects to the concept of nuclear deterrence, continuing prior episode 174’s look at the importance of missile defense in our unstable world of multiple nuclear capable adversaries. Specifically, Nick examines the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, referencing Robert F. Kennedy's book "Thirteen Days."

Learning lessons from those 13 days in October 1962 are “of vital importance today because with multiple threats facing the West—China, Russia, Iran and North Korea—decision making in geopolitical crises that involve nuclear powers may need to become much more process-driven versus individualistic or ego-driven,” says Nick.

Analyzing the crisis management by President Kennedy and his executive committee (EXCOMM), Nick emphasizes the importance of structured decision-making and time management in high-stakes geopolitical situations. And he explores the three "velocities" at play during the crisis: the velocity of Russian initiative, the velocity of American response, and the velocity of assessing and deciding a course of action.

“Recognizing and organizing a process and subsequent decisions into different components, that's going to be crucial to managing a rational process during time of tension,” says Nick.

Nick then examines how nuclear deterrence strategies have evolved since 1962, comparing the velocities of events, response, and decision-making between then and now. Missile defense systems like "Star Wars" or Iron Dome are just as important today as in the 1980s, not just for their defensive capabilities but also for their ability to buy crucial time for decision-making during crises.

Rational, process-driven leadership in handling modern geopolitical tensions is critical. Our complex global landscape requires leaders who prioritize optimal outcomes over personal legacy or popularity.

In closing, Nick connects to the Mad Max series and Tina Turner's hit song "We Don't Need Another Hero" from Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. The film’s post-apocalyptic world and the potential consequences of nuclear conflict, alongside the song's lyrics, further emphasize the importance of getting America’s nuclear deterrence strategy and tactics right in today’s world.