[Argus]

I always enjoyed that scene in THE DEAD ZONE where President Martin Sheen demands that his Chairman of the JCS put his hand on the scanner to launch the missiles, "Or I'll cut it off and put it there for you."

[eastforker]

Somebody has to have an idea, I for one would like to know.

[boris]

"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."

SIOP

[Krodg]

Just a bookmark......waiting for the experts to arrive.

[MineralMan]

"In contrast, if the N button needs to be pushed and the president refuses, who or what over rules."

Nobody overrules. The President has the absolute last word.

[DMCA]

This MAY help. I haven't read it but the title sounds interesting.

Military/Predelegation of Authority to Use Nuclear Weapons in Intense Crises
http://sopris.net/mpc/military/predelegation.html

[July 4th]

Interesting. I would guess that the Pres. isn't "pushing any buttons," but rather giving the nuclear football guy the instruction to initiate the launch protocols.

[Cagey]

The guy on the right is your guy.

[Snowy]

That's a good question. Honestly, a part of me thinks that we will never push the button. Whoever does, has to be 100% sure of themselves. I don't know of anyone who is 100% sure of themselves. The dems certainly don't have the testicular fortitude to push the button.

[DMCA]

This link may also help.


http://www.blacknet.co.uk/education/histnuke.html

It contains quite a few links to site that detail nuclear weapons.

[r9etb]

Actually, the persons who press the nuclear button sit in a silo, or in a submarine. The decision of a president, or anybody else, that the button needs pushing, is nothing more than a strongly-worded suggestion whose implementation depends upon the willingness of those at the console to do so. ;-)

[optimistically_conservative]

http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/usa/c3i/nuclear-football.htm

I guess it's not so much a button, but codes, and there are extreme contingencies where the nuke force commander has authority.

[cripplecreek]

as i understand it, during the clinton administration who ever happened to find the nuke launch codes was the man with the power.

[greydog]

Try a "Authenticated Fire Command" search.

[Truth666]

Back in 1962 we know that the president hat to give his consent.

[Alberta's Child]

Interesting question. Here's an even more intriguing scenario: 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.

[Poohbah]

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.

The correct answer is "it depends."

Under normal circumstances, the President is the one in command of nuclear forces.

However, a nuclear attack is not "normal" in any sense of the word. There may be predelegation of nuclear release authority ("You will respect my AUTHOR-I-TAY!") to specific persons (for example, commanders of certain major commands) under extreme circumstances--the details will depend on the President's temperment and judgement. Such predelegation is an extremely touchy issue; explicit predelegation gives much of the President's power to someone else, while over-vague predelegation makes it hard to determine if the president's wishes are being met.

[Sabertooth]

Your protocols are being discussed, FYI.

[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.

[camas]

are the minute man silos still maned??