Rajneeshee Oregon after 80s nuclear war

[punkrockbowler805]

In OTL, in the eighties, a yoga guru cult called the Rajneeshee took over part of Oregon. They bussed in homeless to vote and took over towns such as Antelope, infected restaurants in the Dalles with botulism in a land dispute with the local government and the guru Bhagwan was usurped by his lieutenant Ma Anand Sheela. They brainwashed and billed jet setters of millions and the Bhagwan bought a fleet of Rolls Royce's, referenced in the Simpsons cult episode.

So say the 99 red balloons go up between Reagan and Brezhnev while they're still in Oregon. They're in a remote non target area with their own security force, bioweapons and a hostage local population. What do think happens?

[archangel]

There's a risk of a local cult-based dictatorship lasting for a while* until reformed state or federal authorities free the area.

*this could be something from weeks to months depending on the severity of the war.

[punkrockbowler805]

I think Portland and Salem would get missile strikes. Those are the main centers of politics and transport in Oregon since I lived there a while. Months is a bit optimistic. Eastern Oregon is very...rural compared to the Willamette. It's where the bird sanctuary militia stuff went down. more likely the Rajneeshee end up in a war with local ranchers and survivalist types.