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Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!seismo!harpo!eagle!mhuxl!houxm!ihnp4!fortune!tierney
From: tierney@fortune.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: Accidental Launches
Message-ID: <1947@fortune.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 13-Dec-83 13:14:37 EST
Article-I.D.: fortune.1947
Posted: Tue Dec 13 13:14:37 1983
Date-Received: Thu, 15-Dec-83 01:28:45 EST
References: <33@tekigm.UUCP>
Organization: Fortune Systems, Redwood City, CA
Lines: 32

Well,
	This is a follow-up to an article which incorrectly or
unclearly made some statements.

	The Air-Force Officer following the President with 
the briefcase has a briefcase full of verification codes,
no hardware:  the codes allow the military to guarantee 
who is giving the fire command.

	
	When nastyness is happening (i.e. "Missile Tracks"
approaching), and the president cannot be located, NORAD in
Cheyenne Mountain will attempt to locate the chain-of-command 
for orders.  If they cannot, the Officer in Control of NORAD
has the authority to act.  The reason for this is obvious:
We have a FAILSAFE system coupled with MAD (Mutually Assured
Destruction), the system GUARANTEES retaliation for attacks.
You cannot keep weak links in such a system, such as "we can't
locate the president, what shall we do?"


	Of course, I think the whole idea is sickening,
and I further believe ANYONE working to make offensive nuclear
weapons is a fool.

	I truly hope we survive ourselves.

		In Hope Of PEACE,
		In Hope Of LIFE,

			Charlie Tierney