We begin bombing in five minutes

With We begin bombing in five minutes a controversial joke of the U.S. President Ronald Reagan referred to on 11 August 1984.

On August 11, 1984, prepared by the President of the United States, Ronald Reagan, in his weekly Saturday address on public radio. At the Sound Test before his speech Reagan made ​​the following joke:

" My fellow Americans, I'm pleased to tell you today that I've signed legislation outlaw Russia forever thatwill. We begin bombing in five minutes. "

" My fellow Americans, I am pleased to inform you today that I 've signed legislation that explains Russia forever an outlaw. We begin bombing in five minutes. "

The joke was a parody of the introduction of the speech that day:

" My fellow Americans, I'm pleased to tell you I did today signed legislation thatwill allow student religious groups to begin enjoying a right they've too long been denied - the freedom to meet in public high schools falling on nonschool hours, just as other student groups are allowed to do ".

" My fellow Americans, I am pleased to inform you today that I 've signed a bill which will allow student religious groups have a right to enjoy, which has been denied them for too long - the freedom outside in public high schools to take the school, as well as other student groups are entitled to it. "

Contrary to popular opinion the joke was not sent publicly, but later leaked through to the population. The Japanese Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper reported in October 1984 that the 1st Far Eastern Front Red Army was put on alert after rumors of the utterance were known, and that the alert was terminated after 30 minutes. Congressman Michael D. Barnes confirmed this information with the Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger. There were no reports of a change in the DEFCON level of the United States.

Although this was not the first joke Reagan before a speech or speech, denounced the official Soviet news agency TASS the joke clearly. She stated: " The USSR condemned the unprecedented and hostile attack by the U.S. President " and " this type of behavior is incompatible with the great responsibility that the leaders of nuclear states for the fate of their own people and of humanity." The newspaper Pravda, then organ of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, commented, Reagan would have " trumpeted what he constantly has in mind ."