Destination: Moon.

[byronius]

I bought a copy of 'Destination: Moon', Heinlein's book made into a movie, with Bob Himself writing the script. I found it to be a thrill, very edge-of-the-seat drama, and my favorite scene is this:

Industry leaders have been brought together by the government to stage a flight to the moon. At the meeting, the industry leaders all express skepticism and doubt — 'Why should we bear the cost? Why doesn't the government do this?' Then the main guy, an aircraft manufacturer, introduces a retired general to explain things. He warns them, with a stern face, that if they don't make it to the moon first, then another world power will — and then will proceed to rain atomic bombs down on all the free nations of the earth, for as everyone knows, the general says, 'he who controls space controls the earth'. 'There is no defense against an attack from space!'

The silence is deafening — then one of the businessmen rises up, with shining eyes — 'Well, that settles it. We've got to do it , then!' Everyone leaps to their feet in excited agreement and patriotic fervor. The 'power' is never named, but since the film was made in 1950 — I think we all know who he's talking about. Yes, the grim and deadly Iranians.

Another classic sequence — 'I claim this moon in the name of the United States of America, for the benefit of all mankind!'

Translation: Atomic bombs on the way, heading for the 'anti-free' world. And that, as we know history teaches, was the end of the Evil Empire of Iran. America has always been at war with Iran. 2 + 2 = 5. To the Moon!

It really was an exciting takeoff scene, however. Filmed in a centrifuge, all the actor's faces stretch like putty — musta been at least 3 G's — and the retired General lets out this constant, high-pitched scream — like a little girl –

1950. When men were men, and occasionally women, but only on the inside, where it's dark.

[whistle]

1. Gee, do you think Dickie Cheney, Donny Rumsfeld and Georgie

...Dubya all watched that movie when they were kids and said, "When we grow up, we'll write and execute PNAC so that we can conquer the moon and control space. That way we won't have to be drafted."