What does M.A.D. stand for in "Inspector Gadget"?

What does M.A.D. stand for in "Inspector Gadget"?
Screenshot from Inspector Gadget © 1983 DIC Entertainment.

When it comes to the original 1980s cartoon version of "Inspector Gadget," do we ever get an origin story? He’s a cyborg, but it’s never explained how that came to be. And he has a niece, Penny, so we know he was a real human at some point. 

But I guess that’s beside the point, because one way or another, usually with the help of the ultra-smart dog named Brain and his niece, Gadget gets the job done. His main mission? Defending Metro City, as well as other parts of the world, from the evil organization simply known as M.A.D.

Run by the mysterious Dr. Claw, whose main character traits are telling Gadget he’ll get him next time and owning cats, M.A.D. covers all the classic evil bases, like replacing things with bombs and stealing lots of money. But what does M.A.D. actually stand for?

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