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Platapus · 05-06-08, 08:52 PM

At the old SAC, the missile officers underwent extensive testing to determine just that question. There were also procedures to ensure launch in case a specific LCF decided not to carry out its orders.

Additionally there were endless drills and exercises which had the secondary effect of desensitizing the release officials. Euphemisms were used to also remove the horrors.

Terms like Human Effects and Collateral damage were used instead of burned children and maimed mothers.

Cities were not blown up. They were targeted.

The button was not pushed, you received release authority.

Warheads did not explode, nuclear devices were initiated.

Radioactivity and fireballs did not destroy cities, target areas were affected.

The people doing the targeting (and the necessary human effect analysis) were usually kept separate from the people with release responsibilities. We did not spend a lot of time briefing missile launch officers about the effects of their weapon. They really did not have a need to know.

About a million years ago, In a past life I was a "finger man" as we ghoulishly called ourselves. I helped select targets (people we would incinerate) and translate the horrors into nice clean geocords. By relocating the RP slightly I could either save or doom a village of people on the outskirts of the "affected area" who had done nothing to deserve being incinerated.

Citizens should rest easy that while we enjoyed our gallows humour, we took our job very very seriously. In all cases, we treated our potential victims with respect and dignity.

General LeMay insisted that the job of nuclear annihilation be conducted with hounour and professionalism. This ranged from the newest maint troop all the way up to the national release authorities.

I have no doubt that if the terrible order came through, our professional military men and women would have completed their duty all the while knowing that they would not survive.

In the cold war we had heros that no one ever knew about.

Sorry for the rambling, but this thread brought up powerful memories.

05-06-08, 08:52 PM	#8
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,371 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	At the old SAC, the missile officers underwent extensive testing to determine just that question. There were also procedures to ensure launch in case a specific LCF decided not to carry out its orders. Additionally there were endless drills and exercises which had the secondary effect of desensitizing the release officials. Euphemisms were used to also remove the horrors. Terms like Human Effects and Collateral damage were used instead of burned children and maimed mothers. Cities were not blown up. They were targeted. The button was not pushed, you received release authority. Warheads did not explode, nuclear devices were initiated. Radioactivity and fireballs did not destroy cities, target areas were affected. The people doing the targeting (and the necessary human effect analysis) were usually kept separate from the people with release responsibilities. We did not spend a lot of time briefing missile launch officers about the effects of their weapon. They really did not have a need to know. About a million years ago, In a past life I was a "finger man" as we ghoulishly called ourselves. I helped select targets (people we would incinerate) and translate the horrors into nice clean geocords. By relocating the RP slightly I could either save or doom a village of people on the outskirts of the "affected area" who had done nothing to deserve being incinerated. Citizens should rest easy that while we enjoyed our gallows humour, we took our job very very seriously. In all cases, we treated our potential victims with respect and dignity. General LeMay insisted that the job of nuclear annihilation be conducted with hounour and professionalism. This ranged from the newest maint troop all the way up to the national release authorities. I have no doubt that if the terrible order came through, our professional military men and women would have completed their duty all the while knowing that they would not survive. In the cold war we had heros that no one ever knew about. Sorry for the rambling, but this thread brought up powerful memories. __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.