Why weren't the invading forces stopped before reaching US soil in Red Dawn?
In both the original version and the remake of Red Dawn, the US — or, at least, the West coast — is invaded by contemporary communist forces (the Soviet Union in the original release, and a mostly North Korean, but also Chinese and Russian force in the remake).
In the remake especially, there's a scene where dozens of transport planes are clearly seen overflying Washington state. This made me wonder, would such an invasion tactic be remotely plausible in either the original (1984) Red Dawn or the remake?
My considerations:
By 1984, the US had a fairly well-developed early warning network against many types of attack on itself and its overseas assets. The States also operated Air Force bases in Japan at that point, which would likely serve as a reliable source of information about this kind of mobilization.
The US had also started using satellite reconnaissance at that point; primitive Corona satellites had been used as early as 1959, and had seen applications including surveillance of both the USSR and China. Its more-advanced successors were no doubt in use by 1984.
Currently, the US (and many of its Cold War-era allies) has a well-developed network of photographic, electronic, and radar reconnaissance and early warning satellites and over-the-horizon radars, on top of allied fleets and groups deployed in the Pacific which could surely also act as early-warning outposts.
Is there an in-universe explanation, both in the original movie as well as the remake, for how the invading forces managed to get around these measures?
Best Answer
Both wikipedia articles on each version's plot refer to an alternate history (or preceding events) where America has become isolated and weakened as the reason why it is vulnerable to invasion, specifically:
The film is set in an alternate history timeline in which the United States is invaded by the Soviet Union and its Cuban and Nicaraguan allies. However, the onset of World War III is in the background and not fully elaborated... The United States has gradually become strategically isolated after several European nations (except the United Kingdom) withdraw from NATO. At the same time, the Soviet Union and its Warsaw Pact partners aggressively expand their sphere of influence. In addition, the Ukrainian wheat harvest fails while a Communist coup d'etat occurs in Mexico. from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Dawn
and
An introductory montage shows the fallout of the economic crisis in the European Union and a weakened NATO alliance, amid increasing co-operation between an increasingly militant North Korea and controlled Russia. The increased deployment of U.S. troops abroad (and the highlighted threat of cyberwarfare) leaves the mainland vulnerable. from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Dawn_(2012_film)
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How was America invaded in Red Dawn?
Patrick Swayze, C. Thomas Howell and Charlie Sheen in the 1984 film "Red Dawn." It seems as far-fetched now as it did during the Cold War: Russia and its allies invading the American interior with nuclear bombs and paratroopers.Who invaded the US in the new Red Dawn?
A remake of Red Dawn directed by Dan Bradley was released in 2012. The film takes place in the 2010s, with North Korea invading the United States.Where was the US military in Red Dawn movie?
"Red Dawn" was the given code name of the military operation in Iraq that captured Saddam Hussein on December 13, 2003. Writer and director John Milius felt honored by that.WHY WEREN'T YOU AT ELF PRACTICE FULL VERSION
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Answer 2
I haven't seen the remake but I recall in the original something about the troops coming over in planes disguised as commercial air carriers. I guess it may be sort of feasible for the time for large transport planes to just get in regular commercial airlanes then when over target veer off to drop paratroopers, followed closely by tactical nukes that were a lot more accurate than they were expected to be.
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