One of the most important people in world history died back in March

[noleclone2]

Maybe some here don't know this story, I remember reading about it a few years back and being amazed how close we may have come to the end (and wondered how many other such stories on both sides there are...) His death was only discovered when western friend called him to wish happy birthday.


"Stansilav Petrov was monitoring radar in Moscow at the height of the Cold War in 1983 when it showed that America had launched a salvo of nukes at Russia. Despite panic among his subordinates Petrov decided not to retaliate, and it was later revealed the radar reading was false - generated by sunbeams reflected off some clouds.

His actions and the nuclear near-miss went completely unacknowledged until military documents were declassified in 1998, bringing his heroism to light. Even his wife, who died in 1997, was unaware that her husband had helped to avoid what almost certainly would have escalated into World War Three. Speaking about the night in question - September 26, 1983 - the former lieutenant colonel told the Associated Press that the decision was '50/50'.

If you read more, basically , if he had instead sent a report that the attack could be real...Russia would have likely launched and then, whelp, that may have been the end of the world.


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-world-nuclear-war-dies-77.html#ixzz4t2evrBGn

 

[kc78]

That's my one hope in these situations. Hopefully the humans who have to push the buttons to launch these things have enough compassion to stand up to whatever fear of reprisal will come for doing so. I most certainly hope that there is not a single person who actually is responsible for that in the US who would ever, even if 1000 nuclear missiles are racing towards us, be willing to end the world as we know it by reprising.

 

[LesClaypool]

Maybe some here don't know this story, I remember reading about it a few years back and being amazed how close we may have come to the end (and wondered how many other such stories on both sides there are...) His death was only discovered when western friend called him to wish happy birthday.


"Stansilav Petrov was monitoring radar in Moscow at the height of the Cold War in 1983 when it showed that America had launched a salvo of nukes at Russia. Despite panic among his subordinates Petrov decided not to retaliate, and it was later revealed the radar reading was false - generated by sunbeams reflected off some clouds.

His actions and the nuclear near-miss went completely unacknowledged until military documents were declassified in 1998, bringing his heroism to light. Even his wife, who died in 1997, was unaware that her husband had helped to avoid what almost certainly would have escalated into World War Three. Speaking about the night in question - September 26, 1983 - the former lieutenant colonel told the Associated Press that the decision was '50/50'.

If you read more, basically , if he had instead sent a report that the attack could be real...Russia would have likely launched and then, whelp, that may have been the end of the world.


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-world-nuclear-war-dies-77.html#ixzz4t2evrBGn

Very cool. I wasn't familiar with that story beforehand. Thanks for posting.

 

[OrlandNole]

Maybe some here don't know this story, I remember reading about it a few years back and being amazed how close we may have come to the end (and wondered how many other such stories on both sides there are...) His death was only discovered when western friend called him to wish happy birthday.

Only one other that I'm aware of. This computer whiz kid hacked into the DoD mainframe and almost started World War III. The kicker? He thought he was just playing a game (thermonuclear global war).

 

[noleclone2]

That's my one hope in these situations. Hopefully the humans who have to push the buttons to launch these things have enough compassion to stand up to whatever fear of reprisal will come for doing so. I most certainly hope that there is not a single person who actually is responsible for that in the US who would ever, even if 1000 nuclear missiles are racing towards us, be willing to end the world as we know it by reprising.

Yep. IIRC there is also a similar hero on a Russian Sub during Cuban Missile crisis. They were going to launch a nuclear torpedo at a US Aircraft Carrier and he would not approve. Think they needed two or three people on sub to approve such a launch and he was only one to not approve.

 

[alaskanseminole]

After spending more than 6 years parked at the Elephant Cage at Elmendorf AFB in the 90's...this brings back some post-cold-war memories for me. Thanks for sharing!

 

[FSUTribe76]

Yep. IIRC there is also a similar hero on a Russian Sub during Cuban Missile crisis. They were going to launch a nuclear torpedo at a US Aircraft Carrier and he would not approve. Think they needed two or three people on sub to approve such a launch and he was only one to not approve.

We've been pretty close to WW3 several times and it almost was always some lower level serviceman who saved us and NOT a higher up. (Kennedy definitely stopped WW3 at least twice and maybe three times once when he appropriately handled the Cuban Missile Crisis, again when personally stopped the CIA (who had received blessing from the Pentagon to go ahead) from doing a False Flag Terrorism bombing in Miami killing American citizens intended to blame Cuba and Russia as a pretext for war and you could also argue his refusal to escalate the Bay of Pigs disaster also stopped WW3 as well. So regardless of everything else he did or didn't do, in my book stopping WW3 2 or 3 times when the Cold War was at its hottest wins best prez in history from me.).

https://www.google.com/amp/amp.history.com/news/history-lists/5-cold-war-close-calls

http://metro.co.uk/2016/07/18/13-times-the-world-came-close-to-nuclear-war-6013942/

I'd like to think that will be the case if Old Donny Two Scoops decides to nuke Best Korea for distraction or general incompetence. Definitely the higher ups wouldn't step in because I read where (can't remember his name just insert some four or five star general or admiral) said if he was told to nuke Best Korea or any other place even if he disagreed that he would do it regardless of any personal misgivings. So the higher ups are only going to be yes men, it would be up to heros like you described or any of the other times lower ranked serviceman literally saved humanity.

 

[seminole97]

Definitely the higher ups wouldn't step in because I read where (can't recall his name just insert some four or five star general or admiral) said if he was told to nuke Best Korea or any other place even if he disagreed that he would do it regardless of any personal misgivings.

If the general says otherwise doesn't he obviate the entire notion of nuclear deterrence?

I read a story wherein a scientist proposed the nuclear 'football' instead of being a briefcase should be a physical implant next to the heart that, in time of need, would require the president to hack into the person with a knife and retrieve it. Thus, only after taking an innocent life with his bare hands could he order an attack that would kills thousands (millions?) more.
Gruesome, but kinda cool...

 

[FSUTribe76]

I read a story wherein a scientist proposed the nuclear 'football' instead of being a briefcase should be a physical implant next to the heart that, in time of need, would require the president to hack into the person with a knife and retrieve it. Thus, only after taking an innocent life with his bare hands could he order an attack that would kills thousands (millions?) more.
Gruesome, but kinda cool...

I haven't seen that but I would be 100% behind such a deterrence against its use. It would eliminate any likelihood of a first strike and only used if 100% absolutely necessary.

 

[FSUTribe76]

If the general says otherwise doesn't he obviate the entire notion of nuclear deterrence?

I wouldn't think so. Because if we're being directly attacked then I doubt any professional military officer would have personal misgivings over using our best weapons in return. It's only using them first that officers would have misgivings like when Nixon wanted to "Think Big" during the Vietnam War. If I remember correctly it was the Pentagon and staff that talked Nixon down from using Nukes and this OD2S General or Admiral basically said he wouldn't have done that. Just go along meekly with the orders.

 

[kc78]

I know that the military teaches to follow the Orders, but if you're willing to just go along with an order that destroys the world, then you're not fit to be a General in my opinion.

 

[ReliableOstrich]

Agreed, there is no winner when the result is mutually assured destruction.

At the end of the day, if our destruction was guaranteed b/c some butthead threw some rockets our way, I'm not sure I'd want the innocent people of that country to face the same fate. What good is revenge if you're not around for it.