“It’s a bad combination when you have a not-too-bright politician looking to say something that will get her attention.”
So, you think it is routine and safe for the United States and Russia to get into a war?
Did you ever hear the story of how programmed Russian computers, based on an incorrect reading of satellite photos of clouds over some part of the United States, were eight minutes away from launching a full scale nuclear attack on the United States in the 80s? And were stopped at the last minute by a low-level operative?
The Russians eased him out of his position since that was not his decision to make, but I think they gave him a pension and retired him.
War with Russia is a terrible idea. But mutually assured destruction is not a foregone conclusion. She knows that, but she said it for attention.
Stanislav Petrov is the man’s name. He did get a reprimand from his superiors, not from his decision....but because of mistakes in his log book.
It wasn’t until years after the Soviet Union collapsed that the West found out what happened. He’s received several international awards, including an award of $25,000US from a peace organization.
“Did you ever hear the story of how programmed Russian computers, based on an incorrect reading of satellite photos of clouds over some part of the United States, were eight minutes away from launching a full scale nuclear attack on the United States in the 80s? And were stopped at the last minute by a low-level operative?”
Not only heard it, but watched a special on it.
“And were stopped at the last minute by a low-level operative?”
Well, he was a colonel; not all that low-level. Just think: Our boomer commanders have the authority to launch on their own orders, and they are of similar rank (a US Navy Captain is the equivalent of a colonel).