But fretting about terrorists plunging America into a wasteland with a single doomsday weapon is best left to video games and potboiler novels. Here it’s most appealing as a fantasy. An EMP blast knocks out the electronic infrastructure that makes the modern world modern. Survivors fend for themselves, work the land and rebuild their communities as they see fit.

It’s all the supposed fun parts of all-out nuclear war without the flesh melting, radioactive consequences. It’s like sitting in a bar — this time in Washington, D.C. — and planning out the best ways to ride out the zombie apocalypse.

“There are many serious national security threats that merit investment and deep concern,” Singer said. “I would suggest [the Republicans] invest more time in educating their candidate about the threat of Russia to NATO than the fantasy of EMP.”

This first appeared several years ago in WarIsBoring here. 

Image: Reuters.