If Needed, Who gets to Push the Nuclear Button

me ^ | 1/26/04 | eastforker

[eastforker]

I asked this question on an earlier thread. I was Freepmailed and told it was classified by a naval officer. In light of some of the presidential candidates before us, I would like to know, who decides to push the N button if needed. In contrast, if the N button needs to be pushed and the president refuses, who or what over rules.

[jerseygirl]

As an aside, I wonder how many of the missiles would actually work.

[alnitak]

"The phone could ring now, from NATO headquarters!"

[Poohbah]

Uh, I think you need to rethink this. I, for one, have no doubt for a second that Weasley Clark and Hitlery would push the button...and nuke GOP-controlled states.

You seem to think that the various folks who actually do the shooting will simply say "okey-dokey."

[evets]

[Alberta's Child]

That's interesting -- I thought all of the members of the President's cabinet are included in the line of succession. I'm no big fan of Tom Ridge, but if Norman Mineta is included in the line of presidential succession, then heck -- I should be, too.

[Paul Ross]

Based on loosely-connected information that I've put together from a number of different sources, I've concluded that Bill Clinton was effectively relieved of his duties as "commander in chief" sometime in his second term of office. If he had given the orders to launch any kind of nuclear strike, perhaps a giant cake would have been rolled into the room and a stripper would have jumped out of it -- but that's about it.

LOL! Unfortunately, not true. The Xlinton's had already surrounded themselves with a number of sycophants in the Pentagon...like Weasely Clark for instance.

[eastforker]

OK, you say a mad man could never be elected, you mentioned Deen, that is not my guess.Nor do I think GW would, but a power hungry individual who has had a taste of power might.Still the question still stands, who or what body decides when to say "go" or block it. There has to be some check and ballance

[Alberta's Child]

It's unlikely that we'll ever have a "madman" in office as President.

See my Post #30. That's exactly what we had from January of 1993 to January of 2001.

[Poohbah]

As an aside, I wonder how many of the missiles would actually work.

We conduct occasional "test launches" at Vandenberg.

Prior to launch, the missile undergoes a much more thorough checkout, with a great deal of repair work, than it would get before a combat launch.

Our failure rate for these launches is about 1 in 5.

[alnitak]

Man, there's a lot of b*!^$£%t being written on this thread. Those of us in the know know that the ONLY "person" authorised to launch the US nukes is a giant computer called WOPR. Or is it "Skynet". I get confused so easily these days...

[chimera]

I have asked this question of officers I work with in the Air Force and Navy. It is my understanding that the physical act of "pushing a button", or turning a key, is done by those in control of the weapons platforms themselves, the submarine or missile base or aircraft from which the weapons are released. But those individuals are acting under orders which have been given (or activated) by those with proper release authority, in the chain of command.

BTW, one of the missile silo guys told me it was in their training that the most likely launch scenario was not one wherein the speakers suddenly blare out a warning to get ready to launch, like you see dramatized in Hollywood depictions of such an event, but one wherein the crews are constantly receiving information and updates related to a gradually escalating situation, which might or might not lead to a launch order.

[CholeraJoe]

There is not a high turnover among missile launch officers. Their tours are long and boring but they stand ready to perform if needed.

It takes two launch votes to launch ICBMs from silos. Even if both crew members go wacko and turn their keys, that's only one launch vote. Two other crewmembers must also turn their keys within a specified time. Either at the squadron operations center, the group control center or in the airborne launch control center (Code Name: Looking Glass). The "Glass" was the only location where both launch votes can be entered from the same physical location. In the glory days of SAC, a Glass with a general officer was airborne 24/7/365.

[jerseygirl]

Thank you. One in five isn't too bad. (I'm assuming the ones that fail wouldn't explode in the silo or whatever)

[camas]

are the minute man silos still maned??

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you for the ping! I would not be surprised if some measures were not taken with regard to Clinton after he "forgot" the football in one instance.

Associated Press 4/24/99 "...President Clinton departed the NATO summit in such haste Saturday that he left behind perhaps the most important piece of luggage in the world - the ``nuclear football.'' The president's military aide, who constantly shadows Clinton and carries the briefcase containing U.S. nuclear launch codes, was mistakenly left at the International Trade Center when Clinton's motorcade sped off 45 minutes early and without notice. The aide walked the 4 1/2 blocks back to the White House without incident..."

[non-anonymous]

[Dog Anchor]

Maybe we should ask Nancy Pelosi...she's the one who thinks the United States is a big missile...

[Poohbah]

Thank you. One in five isn't too bad. (I'm assuming the ones that fail wouldn't explode in the silo or whatever)

Ahem...that's 1 failure in 5 attempts, in a carefully-planned test.

The real-world failure rate would be much higher.

[Alberta's Child]

Weasely Clark, who was eventually fired? You know you're a real bottom-feeder when you get fired by Bill Clinton, of all people.

[Wisconsin]

turnover may have more to do with duty in North Dakota....rural North Dakota