Could you push the Nuclear Button?

If that is part of my job then yes. These missiles are aimed at countries that wish us harm and I would not have a problem pushing the button if given a lawful order. Does anyone think that any of those countries had nuclear weapons and were not afraid of retaliation wouldn't launch at us? MAD is what keeps the world safe, for now. Why do we work so hard to keeps nucs our of the middle east?

As a member of an ATLAS ICBM launch crew in the 1960's (Cuban Missile Crisis), I was always aware there was a possibility of launching the weapon and conscious of wreaking death and destruction on such a wide scale. It was not a pleasant thought, but when in defense of my country and upon receiving the order to fire, I was prepared to push that button, without a second thought.

I know nothing about how that whole thing works. But my odds on guess is that the operator and officer who turns that key or hits that button doesn't know if its a drill or the real thing until after the orders are carried out. I think they face that real possibility every time they have a drill. And pray its only a drill....

I had that job on a Trident sub, yes I would push it, you don't even think about it at the time. You practice it so many times and when it comes time you don't question it you just do it. When your just cruising around punching holes in the ocean you have plenty of time to think 'what if' but when the time comes it's pure reaction, you have to get the birds off the boat because when your in position to launch your a big target, there's likely a Fast Attack watching your every move waiting to blow you up if you look like your going to launch. Mom, Dad and little Susie are most likely dust in the wind now or in a short while because the other side won't hesitate, they train just as hard and know the reality of what is happening. Yes, it's not Alpha male to push the button, it's just what you do. Glade I never did...

I had enlisted as an ET and a sub volunteer, my training was to be for the Polaris and Trident missile systems. I have to believe that when the order came down from the President, I would have pushed the launch button after verification of the targets.

In my career field of communications, command and control it was my job to ensure that the messages to launch were transmitted and systems were up to make that happen. Everytime I would relay EAMs it was unknown whether a drill or the real deal. I knew that if it was an actual launch order that I was effectively killing everyone I knew or loved, to include my family. I never hesitated and wouldn't allow hesitation, period. This was during the Cold War years when MAD was the name of the game. Being a target was just the way it was and they were targets, too. It was something that you didn't worry about, nor question.

You're asking a solid and weighty question.

Before I would take the job / MOS / rating that would put me in the position to do so, I'd do the thinking and soul-searching - not when the order came to flick the cover, insert the key, and hit the button.

Historically, the U.S. is the only country to have used a nuclear weapon (okay, an atomic weapon) for anything other than testing. In retrospect, the bombs we dropped on Japan, which took hundreds of thousands of lives, arguably saved millions of lives; also, the bombs cut the war's duration considerably (which would also equate to millions more being able to recover from suffering and shortages more quickly).

If we look at Hiroshima and Nagasaki today, they've recovered (well, Japan has recovered from the loss of the population) and both cities look much more prosperous than, say, Detroit.

Since I would do my soul-searching and praying *before* I applied for, or took, the job that would put me on the hot seat when the order was given - I have to confess that, yes, if I were in that position, I would hit the button.

When I enlisted I chose to go Navy instead of USMC because I new I could save lives as a Corpsman AND go FMF, but I didn't think I could pull a trigger. After separation in 1969 and 14 years in law enforcement, I philosophically & morally changed such that I now know sometimes pulling the trigger IS saving life!

So, yes, I could/would push the button!

In Sub School we were asked the following question: If it meant surrendering your Country, or initiating a nuclear strike what would you do? To a man, everyone answered -- initiate the strike.

As warfighters, we understand better than most the responsibility of control of the "nuclear option". Our loyality, our decision to carry out our orders in this regard was never called into question, nor did we ever doubt our ability to carry out those orders. All the posturing, second guessing, moral theorizing, and doubt concerning the carrying out a strategic directive on the orders of the President, makes for a good movie plot. But fantasy never begets reality, and in the reality of the Cold War, our resolve to act decisively was not then, nor can it be now ever called into question.

Yes. What a stupid question. If you are in that position you have no choice. If you have any doubts grab your teddy bear find your safe space and suckered your thumb. Again what a stupid question

I was a Programmer Test Station (PTS) operator for the Pershing Missile System ( 1rst Plt C Battery 3rd84th FA 70-73). We on the firing crew discussed this issue on numerous occasions. The answer was yes we would do our jobs and launch our missiles if ordered to do so. Each time the klaxon went off we had no idea if it was for real or a test drill until the missile was counted down to two minutes and holding. So the answer is yes I would.

Like the decision to drop the atomic bomb on Japan, you have to believe that the loss of American lives can be reduced by destroying the enemy before he can destroy you,

I served in the cold war. That question was always on our minds. I was on an Attack Submarine so that question was mute. But here is my slant on the subject. Submarine launched missiles are not a first response weapon. By the time they get the launch order we are fully engaged in Mutually Assured Destruction. And after the last missile was away we knew the our families where gone because our homeport was on the first strike list and the rest of the country was filled with 300 million well done steaks.

I would like to quote senator Zell Miller to answer your question: "I say bomb the hell out of them. If there's collateral damage, so be it. They certainly found our civilians to be expendable".

Ok let me throw a rench in this you have a tango in the streets of anywhere usa with some small suitcase glow in the dark bang boom boom or nasty bug crap and he has your loved one now you have to make your mind up and you have a split sec to do it cause you have to take you loved one out to take the tango out to stop him or her from doing his thing with what they are trying to do ( yea I know it is sick but this is the stuff that I think of most of the time. But it is right there with pushing the button but just more in the line with today's time. Frame just my opinion is all.

I would have to ask the question, what is the consequences of not doing so, do is mean if you are negligent everyone else will die including yourself, some times you have to do things to protect the lives of others and yourself. When missiles are in the hand of evil doers, you most stop evil in anyway you can. I'd say yes.

Can I pick my own targets? Seriously though. If I was assigned to a Minuteman, then it is my duty to push the button. Millions of Americans would counting on me to do my duty. SO Yes.

Look at it this way. Our national policy (right now) is no first use. So assuming we continue to follow that policy, then the order to nuke someone is because they nuked us first. You also have to factor in the training element. People who do that job drill on this stuff so it can be done with little to no thought. Also consider the disassociation. They run their launch sequence, but do not see the results. Combine all of that together and I think it would be done if the order came down.

Yes.

If I received a valid, authentic order, I would absolutely execute the launch as directed. Having been in command of a SSBN and other strategic weapons related duty stations, I know that such an action is not taken lightly and failure to execute the mission would likely lead to significant loss of life back home.