obstruct
to block
ammunition
a quantity of bullets or other items fired from a weapon (also missiles)
caliber
the internal diameter of a gun barrel (for example, .22 caliber rifle has a diameter of .22 inches)
infiltrate
to enter or gain access to
indoctrinate
to teach one (or a group) to accept a set of beliefs without criticism or question
subvert
to undermine the power or authority of
sobriety
The state of being sober (not intoxicated)
constraint
a limitation or restriction
devote
to wholly commit oneself to something
vague
unclear, not specific or detailed
desolate
uninhabited, bleak and empty (of a place).
succumb
to give into something
transmission
In this case, a radio transmission. A program or signal that is sent out.
discriminator
a characteristic which enables something to be distinguished.
impound
to seize or take custody of
prerogative
a right or privilege, exclusive to one individual or group
sap
to gradually weaken
echelon
a level or rank in an organization.
permutation
each of several possible ways in which a set of things can be ordered or arranged
fluoridation
the fluoridation of water is the controlled addition of fluoride to public drinking water to help prevent tooth decay. It has no known negative health consequences.
Cobalt Thorium G
A fictional substance that will produce immense radioactive fallout if exploded in a thermonuclear reaction. It is based on the isotope cobalt-60, which is theoretically produced if normal cobalt is exploded in a thermonuclear reaction.
deterrence
the action of discouraging an action through fear of its consequences
prodigious
remarkably great in extent, size, or degree.
Chekhov's Gun
A dramatic concept first described by Anton Chekhov, in which a gun shown to the audience in the first act of play (or movie), must be used by the end of the drama. This concept helps to understand instances of foreshadowing—if the gun is shown, we know it will play an important role in the conflict. "Gun," however, can be a stand in for other items; in Dr. Strangelove, something like the auto-destruct circuit on the radio, which we are shown by the director, is such an item, and we know it will "go off" later in the film.
Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD)
The MAD doctrine was the policy of both the US and Soviet Union during the Cold War. It stated that if one of the superpowers attacked the other with a nuclear weapon, the other would retaliate with its full nuclear force, prompting a retaliation with the full nuclear force of the initiating nation, resulting in the total destruction of both nations. It was intended to deter both nations from using their nuclear weapons but had obvious logical flaws, and is a major focus of the film.
