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Imagine that you are a Minuteman or Trident missileer (AF and Navy, respectively). You are fully aware that a few oz's of pressure with your finger WILL kill millions of people. Could you do it?
I know that most of us here are alphas, and our knee-jerk reaction is to say 'of course I could.' That's fine. That might also be accurate. But I'm asking you step back, put yourself in that position, and determine whether or not you ACTUALLY would do so if ordered.
I know that most of us here are alphas, and our knee-jerk reaction is to say 'of course I could.' That's fine. That might also be accurate. But I'm asking you step back, put yourself in that position, and determine whether or not you ACTUALLY would do so if ordered.
Edited 9 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 71
Yes, I could. The reason being is if we need to deploy nukes, that probably means the enemy we're facing has either done something terrible to us or is about to (i.e. nuke us); or there's a situation where nukes need to be employed otherwise it could result in great loses on our end.
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My job was not to launch but I did control the codes and the messaging. Too many movies about madmen getting the codes.
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No, I couldn't. The idea of being responsible for the destruction of millions of lives, both instantly and in the aftermath truly troubles me. Having to answer to God for it prevents me from doing it.
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Sp4 Byron Skinner If my duty (Job) was to press the launch button of a nuclear weapon I wouldn't have any problem in doing my duty. Personally I see nuclear weapons as being Militarily useless as our military did in the 1980's when they withdrew nuclear Tomahawk Cruise Missiles and the Pershing II tactical range missile systems. On the battle all you have to do is spread out your forces and let the enemy nuc you. You will lose some soldiers but their deaths would be very expensive deaths to the enemy. Also defense against nuclear delivery platforms has increased greatly. In the 2003 invasion of iraq no Scud missiles landed on American troops even thout Saddam had hundreds to fire on the advancing Americans. Just for an example the USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53) a couple of days ago, launched an SM 6 Dual 1 SAM and it made a hit on a Chinese simulated DF 21D Carrier killer. Even though the DF 21D has yet to hit a moving carrier and pretty much the technology to do so is on the US. The SAM 3 Dual 6 SAM will be able to do cold kills in orbit. Our Navy does't employ carrier killer missiles because there are no carriers out there that are not from friendly countries. Back to Nuclear Weapons remember Colin Powell's Pottery Barn theory, "you broke it you bought it" Any city the US would nut would have to be rebuilt by the US the country that the city is in would have spent to much in money, resources, and people to afford to rebuild. Right now in the Middle East the use will have to fix Aleppo, Mosul and Raqqah. After spending hundreds of billions destroying these cities we will have to spend more billions rebuilding them.
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orders are orders if the order came confirmed yes it is my job then i would do it. thats like asking an Infantryman would you shoot someone woman or child that had a weapon small arms or strapped to them. than i would have to do my job. then live with it. did i shoot that child and save a platoon who was going to die anyway when the bomb went off. war is hell i have never had to do anything like that the call never came in my 6 years of service. 1981 to 1987 the President Reagan years
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You have to certainly have to have allot of faith in your government and it's leaders to puch the nuclear button. If people were made to watch what nuclear weapons do, to the earth and to living things there would'nt be so much John Wayne syndrome. I'm NOT Putting John Wayne, the actor down. he was great. So you over sensitive people don't get your crotch in a bunch.
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PO2 Kevin LaCroix
I, for one, am well aware of what nuclear weapons do, and the practicle side of me would like total nuclear disarmament.
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TSgt James Carson
I don't want nuclear wepons, but they have prevented a world war since they came about. I pray they are never used, and our leaders realize the responsibilty they have to the whole world. It's like the motor car. It's here, so how do you deal with it.
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I recall a news reporter in the 60's who once said-"I'd rather live on my knees, than die on my feet."---You're protecting millions of Americans---What do you think is the right thing to do?
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For a slightly different perspective, I served as a junior officer in the field artillery during the period when we had tactical nuclear weapons. In addition to the Lance and Pershing missiles, there were nuclear projectiles for the eight inch and 155mm howitzers. Given the doctrine under which we would have employed them, we woud all have been aware of the dire situation first hand necessitating their use. So I think it might have been easier for us than it would be for USAF missileers or Navy SSBN crews.
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SN Greg Wright
I imagine it's a lot easier to shoot at people that can see you and are shooting at you, for sure.
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I have read quite a few responses I would say this it is your job morally and justifiably to not follow through with a order if you think you have justifiable reasons especially when millions of lives are at stake but usually if you get the secret codes to launch its already hit the fan so I would say yes
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Years ago, during the waning days of the Cold War when I served (87-91) friends would ask me. At the time, my mindset was a little different. We had one "mortal" enemy and some smaller ones as well. In those days, I would have said, "Yes, kill em all". Then again, I was an 18,19, 20 year old full of piss and vinegar that was ready to do my duty no questions asked. Now that I am older, I'd like to think I would still do my duty but it's hard to say, never having been placed in such a scenario. I would like to think there are enough safeguards in place that by the time the order gets to you, you don't have to think, you just do. You have a lot of destructive power under your finger, but that's something you should be prepared for prior to being in that position.
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PO2 Mark Evans
SP5 Christine C. - Everyone in the weapon's department of an SSBN is in a program known as PRP or Personel reliability program. Yes, we/they are monitored constantly and have no less than a confidential security clearance. Most a secret or top secret.
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PO2 Mark Evans
SP5 Christine C. - This is a strange conundrum. On the one hand we were the knuckleheads, I've never known a submariner that wasn't a bit crazy but on the other hand, we are all certified sane. Everyone talks to a shrink before getting sub duty and minor things that are almost expected other places will get your PRP pulled.
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SPC Darren Koele
PO2 Mark Evans - I would hope it would be TS only. Confidential and Secret are pretty easy get. I had a Secret security clearance and it was nothing more than paperwork and a background check. Sure, maybe interviews or outright denial would have occurred if they found something hinky in the check or if I outright lied about something, but it wasn't a big deal. My wife had TS/SCI when she was with the FBI and later a contractor, but that'said whole other ball game; polygraphs, psych screenings, etc. I would hope the people pushing "the button" had something resembling that.
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PO2 Mark Evans
SPC Darren Koele - I can only speak to my time in the 70's and 80's but back then you only got the clearance you needed to do your job but the PRP program is a whole nother layer beyond the security clearance.
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I was a Programmer Test Station operator with the Pershing Missile System ( 1rst Plt C Battery 3rd/84th FA 70-73 ). We in the firing squad discussed this question many times. All agreed that we would do our jobs as ordered. Each time the klaxon went off we counted our missiles down not knowing if this was the real thing or a drill. So the answer on my part is yes I could and would count down to launch.
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Ask the bomber crew of WWII or Vietnam. Some time they could see the whites of the enemy's eyes.....,
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