How Nukes Were Almost Launched From Okinawa During Cuban Missile Crisis (thebulletin.org)

Lasrick writes: Aaron Tovish is calling on the U.S. government to release documents pertaining to one of the scarier incidents of the Cuban Missile Crisis. According to an Air Force airman, the system designed to prevent an accidental launch of nuclear weapons failed as the codes ordering a launch were given in each of the three transmissions required for a launch: "By Bordne's account, at the height of the Cuban Missile Crisis, Air Force crews on Okinawa were ordered to launch 32 missiles, each carrying a large nuclear warhead. Only caution and the common sense and decisive action of the line personnel receiving those orders prevented the launches -- and averted the nuclear war that most likely would have ensued."

Comments

Re:Amazing we didn't kill ourselves

[Eloking]

Obligatory shout out:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

Well, while we're at it : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasili_Arkhipov

Re:And this is why war can never be automated

[MightyMartian]

The two nuclear attacks on Japan basically ended any chance of World War III, and guaranteed that the Great Powers would never again become directly embroiled in a major war against each other. Yes, it's meant lots of proxy wars, but those are far preferable than a nuclear age version of the great wars of the past.

Nuclear weapons are the most profoundly successful peacemaker in history.