Military myths explained

[snopes]

Mark Pilkington rounds up his top five urban myths about the military, and suggests why they tend to stick:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/...stare-at-goats

[Nick Theodorakis]

Another one that won't die is the myth of the isomer bomb.

Nick

[Mr. Billion]

An impoverished Soviet Union couldn't hope to keep up the pace of the arms race and its sense of defeat was a contributing factor in the end of the cold war.

Did Star Wars really contribute to the collapse of the Soviet Union?

[Malruhn]

Of course! There is no way that they could stand up to Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatane!!

[jimmy101_again]

Originally Posted by Mr. Billion

Did Star Wars really contribute to the collapse of the Soviet Union?

Since Star Wars was (and is) "vapor weapons", and the Russians knew that, it couldn't have had much of an affect.

Usually it is things like the 600 ship Navy that is cited as the cause.

Not that it was, but that is what is often claimed. Reagan fanatics in particular like to point to the 600 ship navy as the "straw that broke the camels back".

Unfortunates, the "camel" was actually American tax payers, and not the Soviets.