- The Warfare of Genghis Khan
Infobox Television episode
Title = The Warfare of Genghis Khan
Series = The West Wing
Caption =
Season = 5
Episode = 101
Airdate =February 11 2004
Production = 176063
Writer =Peter Noah
Director =Bill D'Elia
Guests =Armin Mueller-Stahl Gary Cole Jay Mohr Anna Deavere Smith Terry O'Quinn Steve Ryan Christina Chang Renee Estevez Thomas Kopache Ryan Cutrona Christopher Maher
Episode list = List of "The West Wing" episodes
Season list = Infobox The West Wing season 5 episode list
Prev =
Next ="The Warfare of Genghis Khan" is the 101st "The West Wing" episode and 13th of the fifth season. It originally aired onNBC February 1 ,2004 .cite web|url= http://www.nbc.com/The_West_Wing/episode_guide/107.shtml|title= The Warfare of Genghis Khan|accessdate=2007-05-26|publisher=NBC.com] Events circle around the detection of a nuclear detonation over the Indian Ocean. Written byPeter Noah and directed byBill D'Elia , the episode contains guest appearances byChristopher Maher andChristina Chang . It also introduces to the seriesArmin Mueller-Stahl as Israeli Prime Minister Efraim 'Eli' Zahavy, and gives a first, short glimpse ofJay Mohr as conservative talk-show host Taylor Reid.cite web|url= http://www.westwingepguide.com/S5/Episodes/103_TWOGK.html|title= The Warfare of Genghis Khan|accessdate=2007-05-26|publisher=The West Wing Episode Guide]Plot
When the flash of a secret nuclear detonation is detected over the
Indian Ocean , President Bartlet calls upon his people to investigate which nation now has the atomic bomb — and since conventional thinking favorsIran , Bartlet orders bombers into the air to destroy that nation's most likely uranium-enriched targets. Once it becomes clear that Iran didn't do the nuclear test, President Bartlet has the Prime Minister of Israel fly to D.C. for a chat, but no further action is taken. This storyline also establishes the President's palpable disdain for the current CIA Director.Meanwhile, Josh chides
NASA personnel on the recent failures and embarrassments in their programs for space exploration — until he is introduced to an attractive female administrator who shows him the values of astronomy. C.J. fumes when a combative television talk-show host, Taylor Reid, denigrates her on the air, and Will discloses to Vice President Russell that Russell is considered a buffoon by the White House staff. However, it is Russell whose smarts come to keep the President from bombing Iran. In light of the international situation, Toby wonders why they don't utilize the U.N. in times like this.cite web|url=http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/articles/content/a2235/|title=The Warfare of Genghis Khan|accessdate=2007-05-26|publisher=Television Without Pity]ocial and cultural references
The nuclear test plotline may be based on the 1979
Vela Incident , in which a flash was detected in the South Atlantic Ocean that was suspected to be an Israeli or a South African nuclear test. [Jeffrey Richelson, "Spying on the Bomb: American Nuclear Intelligence from Nazi Germany to Iran and North Korea" (New York: W. W. Norton, 2006), chapter seven, "The Double Flash: The Vela Incidence, September 1979", pp. 283-316.]Reception
TV.com gives the episode a rating of 7.8;cite web|url= http://www.tv.com/the-west-wing/the-warfare-of-genghis-khan/episode/289368/summary.html|title= The Warfare of Genghis Khan|accessdate=2007-05-26|publisher=TV.com] which is about average for season five. [cite web | url = http://www.tv.com/the-west-wing/the-warfare-of-genghis-khan/episode/289368/summary.html | title = Season 5 | publisher = TV.com | accessdate = 2008-01-15] OnTelevision Without Pity it has been given a grade "A-". As ofMay 26 ,2007 ,IMDb rates the episode 7.1 with twenty-three votes. [cite web | url = http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0745714/ | title = The Warfare of Genghis Khan | publisher = IMDb | accessdate = 2007-05-26]References
External links
* [http://www.nbc.com/The_West_Wing/episode_guide/107.shtml The Warfare of Genghis Khan] at
NBC .com
* [http://www.westwingepguide.com/S5/Episodes/103_TWOGK.html The Warfare of Genghis Khan] at The West Wing Episode Guide
* [http://westwing.bewarne.com/fifth/513khan.html The Warfare of Genghis Khan] at The West Wing Continuity Guide
* [http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/articles/content/a2235/ The Warfare of Genghis Khan] recap atTelevision Without Pity
* [http://www.tv.com/the-west-wing/the-warfare-of-genghis-khan/episode/289368/summary.html The Warfare of Genghis Khan] atTV.com
* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0745714/ The Warfare of Genghis Khan] at theInternet Movie Database
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.