There were no “Fail Safe” orbits or Airborne alert since the 60s. All the B-52s on alert when we stood down were on the ground at their home bases. Bush 41 took the bombers and MM2 missiles off alert. The MM2 missiles have since been retired and their launchers destroyed. There are still 450 MM3 missiles and the Ohio class missile boats that are still ready. Putting a few bombers back on alert is just a very visible way of saying we mean business.
Also, the Minuteman missiles are all in Wyoming, Montana, and North Dakota. A direct flight from their silos to North Korea might go over eastern Siberia. That would bring a political issue as well that a bomber can easily avoid.
“GHWB may have stopped the Fail Safe orbits and grounded the planes from their forward positioning. He most certainly did that; at a minimum.”
O.K.
When did the B-1’s start/stop carrying the nukes? ACLM’s?
I was hoping the 450 were still there.
Yes, the route could very well be a problem re: ICBM’s.