Procedure for Nuclear Launch?

[David A Hassett]

Question: is there any type of literature whatsoever which would, at
least to some degree, give a general outline of the procedures that would
be followed in launching a nuclear strike and the regulations regarding these
procedures? I've done some research, and I'm not satisfied with the answers
I've uncovered so far. From what I can see, the President would call the SAC
in Nebraska and relay the codes to the Commander-in-Chief of the SAC, who
would then alert the two man missile crew on the so-called "battle staff" at
the SAC. Then the battle staff and a separate two man crew at another Air
Force base (no idea where) would all have to turn four keys simultaneously
to initiate a launch.
Sounds good, but there are many questions, like what if the president
went insane and decided to nuke Peru tomorrow? Could anyone stop him? If
someone had the capacity to stop him (say for example, the secretary of
defense) would that person also have the capacity to *initiate* an attack if
the President seemed unwilling to act in a time of crisis? If the president
were irradiated in a nuclear blast (along with the codes) how would the
vice president be able to initiate a launch without the codes? If the
president was in an unstable mental state, somebody must have authority to
stop him from initiating a launch, because if he alone is capable of launching
missiles, then the entire US nuclear arsenal can be rendered useless simply
by killing the president. In other words, more than just the president must
have authority to control the nuclaer arsenal, correct? And how does the
president know which missiles he's launching? If the attack comes from, say,
China, how does he know the difference between missiles aimed at Russia and
those aimed at China? Is that info in the codes? A general launch code would
just launch everything reagardless of where it was aimed. Who decides where
the retaliatory launch is aimed?
Bear in mind that things like Dr. Strangelove are useless, because the
info to be found there is apparently incorrect, or at least outdated. Also,
is there any way to find out which bases the missiles are located at? Yes,
sounds like super top secret info, but I should assume a military expert
would be able to glean such info from a general knowledge of which bases
were capable of housing missiles and the general area they are known to be
housed. There can only be a handful of candidates, I would think.
Is there anyplace where this info has been published, or anywhere I
might be able to get at least some info? Or am I dreaming to think that
anything like this would ever be leaked?
Thanks a million.....
-DSH

[Tim Tyler]

Try doing research on the following: National Command Authority,
Minimum Essential Emergency Communications Network, Emergency War Order,
Emergency Action Message, Emergency Action Message Authentication System,
Single Integrated Operational Plan.

Also, SAC no longer exists. Operational management of nuclear
warfare plans, procedures & weapons rests with Strategic Command (DOD joint
command) while Air Combat Command (USAF major command) controls the SIOP
delivery systems & air superiority assets.

Over the past few years, US News & World Report has had a few good
& accurate articles about this stuff.

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Tim Tyler Internet: t...@ais.org MCI Mail: 442-5735 GEnie: T.Tyler5
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