[eastforker]

Thank you both for a very informative post.Even though I posted this as a vanity I knew it would provoke good intelect and information. I have read and understood from others that the USA almost got nuked from Russia in 1995 from the launch of a weather satelite. Also, with the threat of a launch, there is like only 15 minutes to make a decision to counterlaunch. Very sobering facts folks.

[chimera]

I have read and understood from others that the USA almost got nuked from Russia in 1995 from the launch of a weather satelite.

One reason why our counterstrike policy has not been based so much on "launch on warning" (LOW), but to attempt to ride out the initial salvo and launch after assessment of the initial strike. LOW escalates the risk of accidental launch. I'm not for certain what the Soviet policy was, but it would not surprise me to learn that it might in fact have been LOW.

Also, with the threat of a launch, there is like only 15 minutes to make a decision to counterlaunch.

The 15 minute window is for a particular scenario, wherein in forward-based silos are used to impact nearer targets. An example might be silos on the Kamchatka Peninsula targeting bases in Alaska. There could be earlier strikes, such as missiles lobbed in by submarines onto near-shore airfields or strategic targets. Of course, if the opponent's plan is a time-on-target approach, the timeline would be dictated by the furthest "throw" distance.

Very sobering facts folks.

Amen to that. This is why I don't mind the American political system being so ruthless. A better chance to weed out the unstable and weak-minded would-be CICs. Not that it always works, but we want the coolest heads in there when the situation gets hot (and a big NO THANKS to one Gov. Dean)...