To: GeneD
OK. Somebody help me put this into perspective. What exactly do the codes do? Are they to verify that the person ordering the strike is indeed the president? Is the "biscuit" the thing these codes are stored on? Do the codes change on a schedule, explaining why he is talking about trading in the biscuit, or if somebody steals the biscuit, can they start a war?
Not that I am defending the slimey-one, but I would hate to over-react to this. We tend to have that reputation, here.
To: T. P. Pole
Not even the President can launch a nuclear weapon without a second. Likewise, there are procedures to retaliate even if the President is incapacitated which Clinton certainly was. However, it is difficult to imagine a more somber duty, or a more sensitive secret, than the management of our nuclear arsenal.
To: T. P. Pole
Basically, "yes" to each of your assumptions.
'Nuf said about how serious this was.
115 posted on
03/15/2003 11:25:30 AM PST by
Robert A Cook PE
(It's Jean's fault! Pointing finger at daughter....)
To: T. P. Pole
Are they to verify that the person ordering the strike is indeed the president? Yes.
Is the "biscuit" the thing these codes are stored on?
Yes.
Do the codes change on a schedule, explaining why he is talking about trading in the biscuit, or if somebody steals the biscuit, can they start a war?
Yes and probably no. However, if the President loses the biscuit he can't start a war or retaliate against someone who does.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson