Dr. Strangelove - Meghan Frank
Dr. Strangelove shows how a series of outrageous events managed by renegade and inept leaders can lead to the destruction of the world. I do not think the movie unfairly portrays the military. Dr. Strangelove uses over the top and outrageous characters and scenarios to convey its message - that the arms race and nuclear war will destroy our society.
General Ripper is shown as a psychotic renegade that majorly oversteps his authority when he orders the attacks on Russia. He brings his entire unit into his own paranoia by telling them to attack anyone who tries to enter the base, saying "shoot first and ask questions later." The president was the most rational character but was completely ineffective in implementing a solution. He was making useless small talk with the Russian Premier while nuclear war was under way.
The point of Dr. Strangelove is to show the ridiculous path our society was following during the cold war. The characters were intentionally exaggerated. Those who felt the military was unfairly portrayed did not see the movie for what it was - a satiric commentary on the state of our nation.