The nuclear football is just for show really. If it comes down to it, a president saying no to nuclear war won’t stop the nukes from flying.
I’m reading a book on this atm and I’ve only read about the early Cold War so far, but for instance, it was widely believed among the military involved with nuclear weapons that Eisenhower had delegated authority to nuke to a bunch of generals under some very lax circumstances that occurred daily like loss of communication (which happened super often due to weather back then), and these generals then did the same with their subordinates. Nobody knew if that authorization was actually real, but they all acted like it was. In essence, you had very decentralized authority to nuke the Soviets/Chinese (US policy lumped them together even in case the Chinese would stay out of a war with the US). I doubt much has changed, perhaps others can comment
Sorry, didn’t have all the details when I wrote my reply so I left it out. I tend to forget book titles and authors these days…
It’s called “The Doomsday Machine: Confessions of a Nuclear War Planner” by Daniel Ellsberg, the guy who leaked the Pentagon Papers (which describe the US’ involvement in the Vietnam War and how it was much more extensive and violent than they had been telling the public, including bombing Cambodia and Laos, and which helped turn public opinion against the war). Ellsberg worked with the DoD on national security and with the RAND Corporation on US nuclear strategy.
Omg yes!! I want to read that. I’m trying to read his other book, Secrets: A Memoir of Vietnam and the Pentagon Papers, atm but have been too distracted to get far unfortunately. I’ll get there.
The world owes Dan a lot for his courageous and principled actions.
Ellsberg also was a great advocate for Julian Assange’s freedom, even giving evidence at his extradition hearings. It’s sad he didn’t get to see his release. Great man. RIP
except he has the nuclear codes…
The nuclear football is just for show really. If it comes down to it, a president saying no to nuclear war won’t stop the nukes from flying.
I’m reading a book on this atm and I’ve only read about the early Cold War so far, but for instance, it was widely believed among the military involved with nuclear weapons that Eisenhower had delegated authority to nuke to a bunch of generals under some very lax circumstances that occurred daily like loss of communication (which happened super often due to weather back then), and these generals then did the same with their subordinates. Nobody knew if that authorization was actually real, but they all acted like it was. In essence, you had very decentralized authority to nuke the Soviets/Chinese (US policy lumped them together even in case the Chinese would stay out of a war with the US). I doubt much has changed, perhaps others can comment
That’s interesting. What’s the name of the book?
Sorry, didn’t have all the details when I wrote my reply so I left it out. I tend to forget book titles and authors these days…
It’s called “The Doomsday Machine: Confessions of a Nuclear War Planner” by Daniel Ellsberg, the guy who leaked the Pentagon Papers (which describe the US’ involvement in the Vietnam War and how it was much more extensive and violent than they had been telling the public, including bombing Cambodia and Laos, and which helped turn public opinion against the war). Ellsberg worked with the DoD on national security and with the RAND Corporation on US nuclear strategy.
Omg yes!! I want to read that. I’m trying to read his other book, Secrets: A Memoir of Vietnam and the Pentagon Papers, atm but have been too distracted to get far unfortunately. I’ll get there.
The world owes Dan a lot for his courageous and principled actions.
Ellsberg also was a great advocate for Julian Assange’s freedom, even giving evidence at his extradition hearings. It’s sad he didn’t get to see his release. Great man. RIP
😯