Pentagon puzzle: What if the nuclear ‘football’ goes missing?

asiatimes.com ^ | July 22, 2021

[elpadre]

It controls the greatest nuclear weapons arsenal, in the world — a total of 6,185 nuclear warheads.

From this hand-carried black leather satchel, comes armageddon … the end of everything, as you and I know it.

According to a report by Oriana Pawlyk at Military.com, during the Jan. 6 attack on the US Capitol, then-Vice President Mike Pence and his Secret Service team were seen on security camera footage fleeing down a flight of stairs as rioters broke into the building.

Also seen, was a military officer holding the backup “Nuclear Football” (the President also has one) accompanied the vice president.

Frighteningly, top officials from US Strategic Command, which oversees the nation’s nuclear weapon stockpile, said they were totally unaware of just how close rioters got to Pence and his security detail.

According to Stacey Plaskett, delegate to the House of Representatives from the US Virgin Islands, the rioters came within 100 feet from where Pence was sheltering in place.

Only by the grace of God, and, perhaps the utter stupidity of the Trump supporters, the football did not fall into the hands of the Capitol Hill attackers.

Could some lunatic fringe Trump supporter have launched a nuclear attack?

Not likely, say experts, because such a person would not have the launch codes.

However, as part of the fallout (pardon the pun) from this tragic day, the Pentagon’s Inspector General is evaluating whether the Defense Department has done adequate planning in the event the emergency satchel known as the Nuclear Football goes missing.

In a letter dated July 19, the IG’s office said it has begun reviewing the existing plans to alert top officials and take action in the event the briefcase is lost, stolen or somehow compromised, the report said. (continues at link)

[Cobra64]

Stupid article. The codes are changed daily..

[Repeal The 17th]

Gold Codes are the launch codes for nuclear weapons provided to the Presidents of the United States in their role as Commander-in-Chief.

Gold Codes are generated daily and provided by the National Security Agency to the White House, The Pentagon, United States Strategic Command, and TACAMO.

Gold Codes are arranged in a column and printed on a plastic card, nicknamed “the biscuit”.

For an extra level of security, the list of codes on the card includes codes that have no meaning, and therefore the president must memorize where on the list the correct code is located.

Gold Codes, as well as a separate nuclear football, are also assigned to the Vice President in case the President is incapacitated.

The card is similar to a credit card, and the president is supposed to carry it on their person.

Before it can be read, an opaque plastic covering must be snapped in two (like a biscuit) and the card is then removed.
-source:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold_Codes

[foreverfree]

Why do I figure some of those nuke codes are worded straight outta Springfield? (yes Mr. Burns, that one)

Also, how many terms did the football's conceivers kick around (no pun intended) before settling on "football" and "biscuit?

ff

[Georgia Girl 2]

Give me a break! 🙄

[minnesota_bound]

Clinton lost it (sold it probably) and Biden would not know what it is with his mental state.