How PALS Help Secure Nuclear Weapons

Hugh Pickens writes "The BBC reported last week that until 1998 no code or dual key system was required to arm British nuclear weapons. Bombs were armed by inserting a bicycle lock key (video) into the arming switch and turning it 90 degrees. Permissive Action Links (PALs) were introduced in the 1960s in America to prevent a mad General or pilot launching a nuclear war on their own and to control nuclear weapons that were at least partially controlled by other nations but as late as 1974, when an armed quarrel broke out between two members of NATO, Greece and Turkey, the Secretary of Defense learned that many tactical nukes were still not equipped with PALS. It has been reported that PALs have been installed on Pakistan's nuclear weapons to disarm or disable their triggering mechanism if the wrong code is entered or if the bomb is tampered with in any manner."

Comments

Quite sensible

[niceone]

It's because British people are inherently sensible and would not start Armageddon without a jolly good reason. Unlike all you mad foreigners.

Re:Quite sensible

[heauxmeaux]

There is no way you can classify a people who eat Spotted Dick, Bubble & Squeak and Mushy Peas as 'sensible'

Re:Quite sensible

[niceone]

OMG +1 Insightful, could someone meta-meta-moderate that moderation +5 Funny?

Re:Quite sensible

[caluml]

No, no, it's quite true. We've had our Empire, and, to be honest, they're a lot of trouble. See India/Pakistan. You just end up blamed for everything. :)

Re:Quite sensible

[meringuoid]

It's because British people are inherently sensible and would not start Armageddon without a jolly good reason.

It therefore surprises me that the following countries are not radioactive holes in the ground:

Croatia
Portugal (in 2004 and 2006)
Brazil
Romania
Argentina (1986 and 1998)
Germany (too many bloody times to bear thinking about)

We're exceptionally forbearing with the nukes, even when we do have a jolly good reason.

Re:Rumor had it...

[darth_MALL]

I have the same combination on my luggage!

Sigh of relief

[DigiShaman]

has been reported that PALs have been installed on Pakistan's nuclear weapons...

I've always wondered. Given the state of Pakistan and all that, I can truely sleep better at night knowing this. I just hope we're not deluded into a false sense of security.

Yes Minister!

[Hemogoblin]

Jim Hacker: Prime Minister
Sir Humphrey: Cabinet Secretary
---

Sir Humphrey: "With Trident we could obliterate the whole of Eastern Europe."
Jim Hacker: "I don't want to obliterate the whole of Eastern Europe."
Sir Humphrey: "It's a deterrent."
Jim Hacker: "It's a bluff. I probably wouldn't use it."
Sir Humphrey: "Yes, but they don't know that you probably wouldn't."
Jim Hacker: "They probably do."
Sir Humphrey: "Yes, they probably know that you probably wouldn't. But they can't certainly know."
Jim Hacker: "They probably certainly know that I probably wouldn't."
Sir Humphrey: "Yes, but even though they probably certainly know that you probably wouldn't, they don't certainly know that, although you probably wouldn't, there is no probability that you certainly would."

Re:Rumor had it...

[GroeFaZ]

0 0 0 0? That's amazing! I've got the same combination on my luggage!

CPE1704TKS

[Zymergy]

Come on! Someone else admit it.
I can't be the ONLY geek and "WarGames" fan to have once used "CPE1704TKS" or "CPE-1704-TKS" as a password. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086567/goofs

Obligatory Doctor Who...

[D'Arque Bishop]

The Brigadier: [Describing the secret missile-sites information hidden in the safe of the cabinet minister] ...and naturally the only country that could be trusted with such a role was Great Britain.
The Doctor: Well, naturally; I mean, the rest are all foreigners!

Re:Tin Foil Hat Time.

[zerkon]

I'm not entirely certain, but I don't *think* a tin foil hat is going to provide much protection.

My two cents anyway