Mandrake knows the security code to call back the bombers.

The world is moments away from coming to abrubt end. Even less minutes left to be able to call back the bombers. Mandrake is 20c short to make a long distance call to the President and asks the soldier to shoot the Coca-cola Machine to get change for the call.

Mandrake: "Colonel, that coca-cola machine I want you to shoot the lock of it for the change in there."
Colonel: "That's private property"
Mandrake: "Colonel, could you possibly imagine what you way of life will be like when they learn you have obstructed a telephone call to the president of the United States?"
Colonel" "OK, but if you don't get the president on the phone do you know what's going to happen to you?"
Mandrake "WHAT?"
Colonel: "Your going to have to answer to the Coca-cola Company."

I don't know why but this little back and forth made me laugh harder than anything in the movie. Such dire consequences if we don't make this call and this Colonel is warning him about repercussions about vandalizing a coke machine. This little segment encapsulates the entire movies obsurdist comedy. It's only funny because it's true. The military back then was so casual with nuclear warfare that damaging private property was even more serious than possibly ending the world because of a misunderstanding, machine malfunction, loose canon General gone crazy.

Peak cold war days were absolutely insane.