Then NORAD is a complete failure in that case.
After the initial attack wave, you're in a hot war and we'd better be saturating targets in the attacker's backyard before "hour after hour"
Well, without massive defenses that can keep the threat away from our silos,, would we be able to successfully make counter launches in an atmosphere filled with nuclear explosions?? I really think that China or Russia,, should they ever consider a nuclear war, will not waste sending over just 20 or 30 ICBMs in this stupid “first strike,, second strike” scenario. I think they will go for broke, lobbing them by the hundreds or thousands hour after hour, and we need to have defenses to prepare for that. Why has this possibility never been talked about? Most likely, as well, they have far more missiles than we even think.
Reminds me of the story about when Eisenhower sent his science advisor to meet with Gen. Curtis LeMay, Commander Strategic Air Command.
Science Advisor: How much warning prior to a Soviet nuclear attact do you anticipate?
LeMay: Considering that I’m overflying them almost daily, I should have around 5 - 6 Days warning.
Science Advisor: Then what?
LeMay: Then I’m going to knock the sh— out of them before they can attack.
Science Advisor: ... you mean after you get presidential authoization?
LeMay: (silence)