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There was infighting between proponents of nuclear safety and proponents of nuclear readiness in SAC and Los Alamos. Some people wanted to have multiple independent safety devices to prevent accidental nuclear detonations or launches, others wanted nothing but a big red button to launch the missiles.
Command and Control by Eric Schlosser does a very good job of telling this story, as well as the story of a nuclear accident in Damascus Arkansas.
If you’re at all interested in this case, I highly recommend the book Black Hearts, which investigates the incident and everyone involved in extreme detail. It’s an exhaustive, practically bottomless chronology of military incompetence and inhumanity. Oddly enough I was exposed to it because it was on the official reading list of the Marine Corps a few years ago, ostensibly as a lesson on the consequences of a poor command environment. But anyone who has served can tell you that everything the book catalogued is just business as usual for the military.
The book Command and Control gives a good accounting of that story, along with a really interesting look into the history of nuclear weapons. I'd highly recommend the book if you're interested in nuclear stuff.
There have been thousands of reports from reliable and reputable people within the military, NASA, astronomers, scientists, pilots and lay people from around the world over the past few decades that have no reason to lie (in most cases they report the incidents despite ridicule and potentially damaging their careers), backed up by evidence
NY Times reporter Leslie Kean, who broke the most read story on NY times last year about the 2004 incident that the pentagon were looking in to, has written an incredibly well-researched book about the phenomenon with exhaustive details featuring first person reports from across the globe. It is worth reading before you make up your mind about the occurance https://www.amazon.co.uk/UFOs-Generals-Pilots-Government-Officials/dp/0307717089
True the field attracts cracked types and more often than not videos that we see on youtube are hoaxes and poor ones at that, but look beyond the bullshit and read actual articles from the French and Chilean government who research such incidents and it will astound you.
The Americans shape the global attitude to the phenomenon - possibly because it shows their incapacity to handle and understand at - and that attitude is one of dismissiveness and ridicule. Fair enough too, if you are the global superpower with complete autonomy over the skies, you don't want to admit you've got a situation you cannot explain. Better to investigate it privately and publicly ridicule it
Ultimately we have no idea what it is, could they be a modern myth as CJ Jung hypothesised in his book "Flying Saucers: A Modern Myth of Things Seen in the Skies", similar to religious visitations through the years but seen through the prism of our scientific world view, or could they be interdimensional beings as French computer scientist Jacques Valle posits.
fuck knows, but it is interesting just a pity you can't talk about it without being seen as a lunatic.
I'm currently reading Command and Control: Nuclear Weapons, the Damascus Accident, and the Illusion of Safety, by Eric Schlosser, and I have NO idea how humanity made it out of the 1970s alive. Hoooly shit, what you think you know is just the tip of the terrifying ice berg.
If you are interested in stuff like this you should check out the book Command And Control.
It really highlights how close to utter devastation we have been during the past 60 years...
One of the top reviews from Amazon: As a former Titan II Missile Facilities Technician, this was a page-turner for me. The author got it right in his descriptions of the attitudes and culture in the missile career field, the systems in use, even the music we listened to back then. It is rare for a military themed book written by a non-military writer to be so spot-on (IMO). The descriptions of some of the close calls we (we citizens) had with H-bombs are chilling, and the story about the Damascus Arkansas Titan II explosion was weaved in perfectly throughout the book. Time well spent.
This is probably up there... Mahmudiyah rape and killings
Black Hearts: One Platoon's Descent into Madness in Iraq's Triangle of Death
It's becoming obvious that all your social media is being manipulated. Twitter/Facebook/Reddit/etc. Professors have shown that the entire narrative of a subreddit/post can be controlled by as few as 5 bot accounts. $200 is enough to get a clearly false post onto the front page.
The key is that you should put NO faith in arguments nor articles written on social media/twitter/etc. Consider it all fun theater, but don't use it to form your opinions or be educated on a subject.
But this is not new. All during the Cold War, Russia would manipulate groups to stall and derail US politics. Despite the fact the whole effort was very poorly handled and turned into a witch hunt, the Red Scare searches for Russian manipulation was quite real.
If you think you're immune, know that the military's handling of nuclear weapons is often seen as incompetent and comical. See Dr. Strangeglove. Despite the fact Russia had even MORE incidents and worse handling, they did a tremendously good job of capitalizing on our failures. When their intelligence found an incident of mishandling, they would leak it to the news, and then use our own news/advocacy groups work against the government. They absolutely did fund/feed/use well-meaning groups that aligned with their goals: create scandal, discredit politicians, control narratives, ferment social disorder. Sound familiar?
Worth a read about cold war nuclear programs and had a good chapter on these tactics:
Command and Control - Eric Schlosser
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C5R7F8G/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1
> If they end up using it, I'm sure it's for a good reason
I would recommend you read Doomsday Machine by Daniel Ellsberg (yeah, that Daniel Ellsberg). It may change your notions on that.
>@1:30 "everything being in God's hands it [testing weapons] cannot be anything other than good.
Such Bullshit!
I just finished reading The Doomsday Machine: Confessions of a Nuclear War Planner
It left me with this impression: we need to spread the word - we all face an existential threat. If we are to survivie, we must demand responsible governments and open societies.
If you want to read more with some amazing technical details of the Titan silos, I highly recommend Eric Schlosser's book "Command and Control: Nuclear Weapons, the Damascus Accident, and the Illusion of Safety". It's a compelling read.
> "The Doomsday Machine: Confessions of a Nuclear War Planner"
By Daniel Fucking Ellsberg, AKA OG Snowden. Basically the Pentagon Papers weren't the only crazy shit he saw back in the day. In 2017 he published a book describing all the rest, arguing enough time had passed that he felt comfortable disclosing assorted highly classified info.
Clean Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/Doomsday-Machine-Confessions-Nuclear-Planner/dp/1608196704
It's actually fascinating because it's a Global Phenomenon and once you read books that have actual testimony and in 2 instances radar data of cases it's clear that something is going on. Objects that can travel over 13,000 MPH since 1940s. Objects that seem to be originating from the Ocean and not space.
I think most "leadership" books are a waste of time if you are a regular human being that exercises empathy, pragmatism, and critical thinking.
What people ought to be reading are books of leadership failures like Black Hearts. You can learn far more from failure than success and I'm open to anyone changing my mind on that.
This is true, no one comes close to Americans Military abilities. However, I would highly recommend this book, https://www.amazon.com/Kill-Chain-Defending-America-High-Tech/dp/031653353X
It's written by John McCain's former military advisor and it does an excellent critique of America's relative military capabilities. It's totally shocking and a wakeup call.
Man, let me tell you, if you ever have a chance to read Command and Control, it will chill you. And then you'll wonder with all of these "accidents" with nuclear weapons -- at least the ones the author found out about and reported -- why our luck hasn't ever run out. It'll make the most hardcore atheist believe in a benevolent deity looking over us.
The story of the Nimitz is weird as hell and once you read the book from Leslie kean who released the 2017 NYT ufo article it becomes even more clearer that every single country on this planet has had their own military encounter. This book has 2 instances of military pilots shooting at the objects
But really, if you are interested in learning more these two are absolutely where to start:
[Book] UFOs: Generals, Pilots, and Government Officials Go on the Record
[Documentary] The Phenomenon
Both of these highlight some of the most compelling and still unexplained cases in modern UFO history from around the world. Everywhere from Iran to Zimbabwe to Alaska to Chicago O'Hare Airport.
When you read Leslie Keans book it becomes clear that it’s simply impossible for it to be Russian and Chinese.
https://www.amazon.com/UFOs-Generals-Pilots-Government-Officials/dp/0307717089/ref=nodl_
There's a great book that came out in the last year or two, called The Doomsday Machine. It details the process for nuclear weapons release, chain of command, common misconceptions, etc. Starts off from when we realized nuclear reactions could be used in war, to how the release protocols have changed over the years, and how there's been a few close calls.
An excellent read if you're interested in how America handles its nuclear arsenal.
Contrary to what Hollywood has taught you, there's more too it than the President saying "Nuke them"
There's a great book that came out in the last year or two, called The Doomsday Machine. It details the process for nuclear weapons release, chain of command, common misconceptions, etc. Starts off from when we realized nuclear reactions could be used in war, to how the release protocols have changed over the years, and how there's been a few close calls.
An excellent read if you're interested in how America handles its nuclear arsenal.
There is an entire book written called Command and Control about the close calls that digs into more depth than Wikipedia does. I have read it and damn it is scary. Superb research by the author with very extensive bibliography. Highly recommended. Amazon link - https://www.amazon.com/Command-Control-Damascus-Accident-Illusion-ebook/dp/B00C5R7F8G/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1530577330&sr=1-2&keywords=nuclear+accidents
Leslie Kean is probably the best starting point.
Her UFOs: Generals, Pilots, and Government Officials Go on the Record makes no assumptions and merely lists evidence of credible military witnesses from all over the world. It is a solid case for conclusions identical with the DNI UAP report.
Leslie is a veteran New York Times journalist who got interested in the subject after the French COMETA report was released.
Perhaps a "clean sheet" fighter to fit the "low" side of the "high-low mix" is code for UAV fighters. Having read Christian Brose's "The Kill Chain: Defending America in the Future of High-Tech Warfare", I think that sounds like a great idea.
I recently read 'UFOs: Generals, Pilots, and Government Officials Go on the Record' and thought it was really good. Lots of cases with support from official documents from military organizations around the world, and also military persons' testimonies lending it a lot of credibility.
Do you have a source for this? I'm not challenging you or anything, it sounds fascinating and I'd like to jump down that rabbit hole.
I loved the book Command and Control: Nuclear Weapons, the Damascus Incident, and the Illusion of Safety
Eh, Israel would definitely lose this war. Arab militaries are mostly weak and poorly run (1, 2), but Turkey, Nigeria, and Indonesia all have fairly effective militaries. Also, Morocco and Egypt, the two most powerful and effective Arab militaries, would not be sitting this war out like they have more recent Arab-Jewish wars.
Of course, that disparity in military effectiveness sort of explains why this whole idea is laughable. This entire pseudo-state would effectively result in a few powerful cultures and militaries dominating everyone else, supposed brotherhood in Islam be damned. It would basically be a renewed Ottoman Empire, with Turks in the drivers' seat alongside Indonesians and a few other chosen peoples. I'm fairly certain the last time this happened there were one or two Arab revolts.
The book was fantastic
Command and Control: Nuclear Weapons, the Damascus Accident, and the Illusion
>The question is, would we rather live in a world where nuclear terrorism is the means to power and security?
This is, broadly speaking, the world we live in today. The mere position of being a nuclear power means any threats, even if they are not weapon-specific, imply the possibility of nuclear escalation (here's a great article on nuclear blackmail that addresses this very topic).
Indeed, threats and nuclear threats have been a part of the nuclear age since its inception (see: Truman in Korea, Eisenhower in Korea, threats over Taiwan in the 60s, etc.). The difference here is not the mere presence of the nuclear threat itself; its that the threat seems so far outside the boundaries of what we would consider to be "appropriate" in international affairs.
There's a lot written on this exact topic (for a quick read that isn't overly technical I'd recommend The Doomsday Machine) but generally speaking, nuclear weapons are built not to be used but so that we may credibly threaten their use to compel or deter an adversary into an action or outcome we desire.
The risk currently at play (that grows increasingly) is that by pushing up against Russia's "red lines" we may miscalculate and inadvertently wind up in a position where a conventional strike on Russian troops in Ukraine is required as a response to nuclear weapons usage by Russia.
Once that happens? all bets are off in terms of predictability.