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U.S. Ready To Put 'Nuclear Bombers On 24-hour Alert' For First Time Since Cold War
The Daily Mail ^ | 10/23/17 | Abigail Miller

Posted on 10/23/2017 5:15:18 AM PDT by Enlightened1

The United States Air Force will put its ageing fleet of nuclear-capable B-52 bombers on 24-hour alert for the first time since the end of the Cold War, according to its chief of staff. 

Amid rising tensions with North Korea and a resurgent Putin-led Russia, General David Goldfein told Defense One that the strategic bomber force will be ready at a day's notice for the first time in 26 years. 

Adapting to the 'reality of the global situation', Goldfein's order would see B-52s readied at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana and armed with nuclear weapons - something not seen since 1991.

Indeed, Barksdale - the home of the 2D Bomb Wing and Air Force Global Strike Command - is currently being refurbished in anticipation of the change in defense posture to allow the bombers to 'take off at a moment's notice'.

This is the latest defensive move from the US military, matching the bellicose threats that President Trump has posted on Twitter, putting North Korea, Iran and other American enemies on notice he will use the might of the armed forces.

This comes after Donald Trump met with top military chiefs on October 6, and made a comment about 'calm before the storm.'

Speaking to Defense One, General Goldfein emphasized that orders haven't been given yet, but that they are preparing the bases in the event that it should happen.

'This is yet one more step in ensuring that we're prepared,' General Goldfein explained.


(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: alert; bombers; coldwar; nuclear
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To: Enlightened1

In practical reality, those 50+ year old bombers can take nearly half a day to reach their targets; SLBMs can be there in a matter of minutes. They do make a good display, though.


21 posted on 10/23/2017 7:31:17 AM PDT by JimRed ( TERM LIMITS, NOW! Build the Wall Faster! TRUTH is the new HATE SPEECH.)
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To: JimRed

And sub launched cruise missiles as well.


22 posted on 10/23/2017 7:31:57 AM PDT by JimRed ( TERM LIMITS, NOW! Build the Wall Faster! TRUTH is the new HATE SPEECH.)
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To: JimRed

Wait to see if a few get pre-positioned to Guam...


23 posted on 10/23/2017 7:43:27 AM PDT by DuncanWaring (The Lord uses the good ones; the bad ones use the Lord.)
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To: G Larry

“This helps explain the pilot recall to active duty.”


I saw that over the weekend on the Fox News ticker...and then it was gone. 3,000 pilots being recalled from retirement - you don’t do that unless something BIG is about to happen. Could be NK, could also be Iran. Do we know what Iran will do if we end up shooting at NK? I’m betting that Iran has nukes, and they certainly have rockets that can deliver them to Europe and possibly the US.

This is all the legacy of 8 years of complete appeasement, following 8 prior years of weakness and one-world BS.


24 posted on 10/23/2017 7:46:23 AM PDT by Ancesthntr ("The right to buy weapons is the right to be free." A. E. van Vogt)
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To: Enlightened1

“This is the latest defensive move from the US military, matching the bellicose threats that President Trump has posted on Twitter,....”


Nice objective reporting there, Leftist Limey bastards.


25 posted on 10/23/2017 7:47:23 AM PDT by Ancesthntr ("The right to buy weapons is the right to be free." A. E. van Vogt)
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To: Enlightened1

They should never have been taken off 24 hour alert.


26 posted on 10/23/2017 8:24:57 AM PDT by bgill (CDC site, "We don't know how people are infected with Ebola.")
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To: dpetty121263

Right. The Gubbermint doesn’t tell the “little people” much.


27 posted on 10/23/2017 8:52:29 AM PDT by GoldenPup
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To: G Larry

Good point...They’re looking for experience and fearlessness.


28 posted on 10/23/2017 9:17:03 AM PDT by Sacajaweau
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To: Ancesthntr

“This is all the legacy of 8 years of complete appeasement...”


Appeasement or cooperation?


29 posted on 10/23/2017 9:30:26 AM PDT by ConservativeWarrior (Fall down 7 times, stand up 8. - Japanese proverb)
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To: PJammers
Yup. Curtis LeMay created SAC. 👍

LeMay was the original “mad dog.” We need more like him.

30 posted on 10/23/2017 9:42:27 AM PDT by Cobra64 (Common sense isn't common any more.)
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To: JimRed

I think the BUFF readiness and eventual deployment is part of a scare tactic to either intimidate, or cause the North to initiate an offensive operation.


31 posted on 10/23/2017 9:44:56 AM PDT by Cobra64 (Common sense isn't common any more.)
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To: JimRed

I would guess that the B-52’s would not be on the first waves of an attack. More of a stand off weapon or deployed when air superiority is achieved. They could then pound the DMZ and Nork artillery with precision weapons.

Missiles, B-1’s, B-2’s, F-22’s and F-35’s would be the initial strike force followed by F-15’s, 16’s and 18’s.


32 posted on 10/23/2017 10:25:55 AM PDT by sarge83
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To: puppypusher

I believe the Navy has these big steel tubes called submarines that are deployed 24/7/365 that have nuclear tipped missiles in them. They are usually much closer to the threat than Louisiana or Nebraska. So it’s not the only thing that we have.


33 posted on 10/23/2017 10:57:18 AM PDT by rednesss (fascism is the union,marriage,merger or fusion of corporate economic power with governmental power)
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To: rednesss

Thanks for the info.I’m very aware of the Ohio class SSBN’s in use by the navy.The problem is once those missiles are fired they cannot be recalled unlike the Stratigic Bombers in the Air Force or back in the days when SAC ruled the roost.

Besides that I have nothing against my friends in the Navy,I’m just Biased by my years spent in SAC.


34 posted on 10/23/2017 11:19:52 AM PDT by puppypusher ( The World is going to the dogs.)
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To: puppypusher

Agree ..... lived SAC at Kinchloe AFB with B-52’s, FB-111’s and KC-135’s then Davis Monthan AFB and McConnell AFB with Titan ICBM ..... SAC had they’re shit together 24/7 . If you were in the proximity of an alert crew on a bomber base and the klaxon went off you had better make a hole and get out of they’re way.....


35 posted on 10/23/2017 1:29:42 PM PDT by Squantos (Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everyone you meet ...)
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To: rednesss; puppypusher

I believe his comments were talking about the current USAF command that replaced SAC command. Anyone in the special weapons arena is well aware of the USN and USAF parts of the “old” TRIAD..... now pretty much “two train rails” without an alert bomber contingent .

If I was the chief cook and bottle washer aka HMFWIC we would have 50 boomers “fully” loaded with W88’s and W76’s also 200 attack subs with conventional SLCM’s and nukes back on carriers...... Real need exists to reevaluate and renegotiate the SALT agreements on MIRV warhead limits IMHO.

MAD doctrines purpose has been lost ...... Bert the Turtle should never have to come out of retirement.

As to USAF assets to disperse I would place B2’s on 24/7 alert, loaded with nukes in the CONUS and B52’s or B1’s on just Guam.

Just my opinion of course.


36 posted on 10/23/2017 1:59:40 PM PDT by Squantos (Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everyone you meet ...)
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To: PJammers


37 posted on 10/23/2017 5:36:46 PM PDT by itsahoot (As long as there is money to be divided, there will be division.)
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