Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1exp 11/4/83; site ihuxq.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!security!genrad!decvax!harpo!eagle!mhuxl!ihnp4!ihuxq!ken
From: ken@ihuxq.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: ACCIDENTAL LAUNCH
Message-ID: <405@ihuxq.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 7-Dec-83 15:44:44 EST
Article-I.D.: ihuxq.405
Posted: Wed Dec  7 15:44:44 1983
Date-Received: Fri, 9-Dec-83 07:44:06 EST
References: <167@ihu1e.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, Il
Lines: 24

-----
Greg assures us that there is no "launch button", & that is
undoubtedly true.  My fears of an accidental launch (& I
believe the crux of net discussion) derive from how we know
there is an attack to respond to.  As things (missiles) stand now,
the time from any launch to impact is on the order of hours.
This is sufficient time to review the data from an attack
alarm by hand.  When we put Pershings in Europe we give the
Russians no more than 15 minutes, possibly only 6.
If they thought we were out to get them (how silly),
they might automate the decision process (which I
do distinguish from the actual firing process).
In fact, they have threatened to.
But we can all sleep soundly, since there cannot
possibly be any significant bugs in their decision algorithm
or its implementation.  After all, Russia's 5-year programs
have always worked exactly according to plan.
-- 
                    *** ***
JE MAINTIENDRAI   ***** *****
                 ****** ******
ken perlow       *****   *****
(312)979-7261     ** ** ** **
..ihnp4!ihuxq!ken   *** ***