4 ms·
> Unless you're willing to go to fully dispersed command (and thus risk a commander at theater or below level launching on his own authority...), pretty much t
by dylan604 1y ago
> Unless you're willing to go to fully dispersed command (and thus risk a commander at theater or below level launching on his own authority...),
pretty much the plot of Dr Strangelove
- arethuza 1y agoAccording to Daniel Ellsberg the US did implement a scheme where regional commanders could use nuclear weapons without explicit authority from the President: "Walking out of the theater, Ellsberg turned to his friend, another nuclear denizen, and said, “That was a documentary.”"
- Yeul 1y agoI read once that UK submarine commanders had the authority to launch if they couldn't contact London and the BBC was no longer broadcasting. Makes sense the idea that your entire war plan hinges on one guy is stupid.
- arethuza 1y agoIn descriptions of the process it always amuses me that they talk about failure to receive Radio 4 being the test (perhaps of it also being broadcast on long wave)... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letters_of_last_resort https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letters_of_last_resort