> a nuke will permanently destroy every electronic device in a large radius

The electromagnetic pulse (EMP) produced by nuclear weapons detonated above the atmosphere [1] is destroying many electronic devices in a large radius. "Every" seems too strong of a statement, though, a majority of devices which are small and not connected to wires may survive. The problem though is that even just destroying a large part of devices is enough to disrupt food and water sources and transportation capabilities in a wide area. EMP, while radiation, is not ionizing radiation--its frequencies are below a few 100 MHz. It damages electric and electronic equipment by voltage surges produced in (longer) wires attached to the devices.

> old, rad hardened devices

Radiation hardening [2] is referring to protection from ionizing radiation. While nuclear weapons of course produce lots of that (and it is what is then partially converted to the EMP when it hits the atmosphere), it is of somewhat more localized (~tens of kilometers rather than thousands from the point of detonation), and it appears, secondary concern. Ionizing radiation affects humans and devices similarly. Radiation hardening for devices presumably only makes sense if humans are protected, too, lest they can't use the equipment anymore. During my research I ran across "systems-generated EMP effects", though, which may be an exception (an amount of ionizing radiation low enough to not kill or damage humans much, but high-densitiy enough due to the short duration to destroy electronics). Maybe you were referring to this, I don't know. It seems that EMP protection is more important, though, especially considering that the context here was writing documents, which is probably not a priority if surviving the nearby low-altitude nuclear detonation that's necessary to produce systems-generated EMP effects?

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_electromagnetic_pulse [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiation_hardening [3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiation_hardening#Systems-ge...

Sure. Bad thing is that all relevant records are digital, there a re no off-line copies to work from. Nor are the processes in place to operate purely analog. And what paper documents are there are in such bad shape that they are one of the reasons planes aren't airworthy, tanks aren't driving and subs aren't diving.

Not to mention that electronics in the military are usually hardened anyway.