Report from Iron Mountain

This text is an excerpt from a 1967 report, purportedly suppressed, arguing that lasting peace is unattainable and undesirable. The authors, a secretive Special Study Group, contend that war serves essential social, economic, and political functions, including economic stabilization and maintaining social order. The report explores the difficulties of transitioning to a peaceful society, suggesting that substitutes for war's functions, such as a massive space program or eugenics, might be necessary to maintain stability. The text also includes a discussion of various methods for studying and controlling the effects of war and peace on society, using computer simulations and mathematical models. Finally, it proposes the creation of a new War/Peace Research Agency to address these issues.