A general observation about cold war TLs - is it possible that we have an age problem here ? My impression is that many here were born after the end of the cold war and see the whole thing filtered through thriller novels of doubtful accuracy (like Clancy et al.)
Most definitely... I was very worried all through 1983, particularly when the former head of the KGB became the leader of the Soviet Union, the same guy who was behind an attempt to kill the Pope, while it wasn't long since it looked like the Soviets were really going to invade Poland and meanwhile the US President literally joked about launching a nuclear strike.
Worried enough to develop a provisional escape plan from the Houston Texas area in the event of war as oil refineries are a primary target.
Sometimes history is no substitute for living through the time period.
That by the way was BEFORE we learned about how Able Archer almost triggered a nuclear war