Headlines stir old memories of the Cold War

Tensions are increasing between the U.S. and Russia and the military is assuring us they can defend us from the threat of Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles.

Welcome to the 1950s. Is it time to dig out the old 16 mm “duck and cover” movies baby boomers were shown in grade school?

Not yet, but we did receive an email over the weekend from Gen. Lori Robinson, commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command, in response to North Korea’s ICBM launch Friday that assured it had determined the launch “not to be a danger to North America.”

“However, this provocative launch served as yet another reminder of North Korea’s continued threat to the United States and our allies with their missile program.

“As the Commander responsible for defending the homeland, I want to assure our citizens that USNORTHCOM remains unwavering in our confidence that we can fully defend the United States against this ballistic missile threat.”

“At NORAD and USNORTHCOM, we stand this watch each and every day,” Gen. Robinson said. “We are fully committed to working closely with our Republic of Korea and Japanese allies to maintain the security of their region and our great Nation.”

To make that point, the United States sent a couple of B-1 bombers, escorted by South Korean fighter jets, on a low-pass over an air base near Seoul, the South Korean capital and then back to Andersen Air Force Base on Guam.

Although Friday’s missile landed west of Japan, it flew far enough into space that they could have reached our neighborhood had the trajectory been flattened out.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the United States to cut its diplomatic staff by 755 — reducing it to 455 — and close a recreational retreat and warehouse facilities.

Russia took the move in response to U.S. expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats and the shutting town of two Russian recreational retreats in the United States over reports of Russian meddling in the 2016 elections.

Putin had held off retribution for those actions, taken by President Obama, in hopes President Trump would reverse that move, but apparently decided that wouldn’t happen.

Today’s millennials and Gen-X’ers don’t remember the days when yellow-and-black “Fallout Shelter” signs decorated public buildings, with cartons of emergency supplies tucked away in basement rooms.

But their parents and grandparents do, and today’s headlines are sure to stir old feelings of dread and fear.