[Carry_Okie]

As CINC he can use weapons as he sees fit.

Physically, but not legally.

He could be impeached for improper use, but he he pushes button, and a second person in the command authority chain verifies it, we split atoms.

True, but by no means optimal. I just don't buy this story. The Pentagon brass may be saying that they might need this authority, and surely they should be armed to execute such a plan, but allowing field commanders to act on their own doesn't seem to me to be this Administration's MO. I think it more likely that the Kyodo people are taking the facts to an illogical conclusion for propaganda purposes.

[MindBender26]

Suggest a close reread of story:

"The U.S. military plans to allow regional combatant commanders to request the president for approval to carry out preemptive nuclear strikes."

The operative word here is "request".... and it is meaningless.

Regional commanders, in fact any commander, in reality any Spec-4 on guard duty at the PX could request the Prez to launch.

The story here is that the regional commanders do not have to go through the JCS to get presidential launch authority.

In reality, this is nothing new. SSBN captains always has independent launch authority under certain circumstances. Those were well regulated, but under some VERY special circumstances, an 0-6 and his officers could launch.

[bill1952]

Physically, but not legally.

Also incorrect.