01-21-2006, 02:05 AM
Nack, yes we were still heavy into MAD at the time. Any attack would be met my massive response by the other side (who here saw The Day After?). It was a 'use it or lose it' policy. Neither side could risk waiting until after the other sides first strike to be over before responding. Thus, both leadership groups were in a position of extreme pressure if a launch was detected; if they waited, they really risked losing command and contraol of their triad. Thus, both sides developed a strong 'second strike' capability; even if a first strike was to be launched and not responded to in time both the USA and USSR would have enough forces left over (mostly in subs) to destroy the other county. Thus, a no win scenario, and MAD.
People forget how tense 1983 was. You had the very geriatric Soviet leadership, led by a very paranoid Andropov on one side, and a sabre rattling Reagan ( hey, i am a fan of his, but his policy was dangerous) who wanted to push and confront the USSR. The USA was doing constant air patrols around the soviet border (Eisenhower really started this; he loved to send USAF planes right up to the soviet border and then turn back to see what would happen); nuclear missles were being deployed in greater numbers inside Europe (the idea being that battlefield nuclear weapons would act as a quick trigger to general ICBM release, making possible nuclear war between the USA and USSR more likely); there were lots of little conflicts in the third world, etc. Into this flys KAL 007, gets shot down by the Red Air force and boom, you have another Franz Ferdinand assasination; we really could have had a war by mistake at this point.
The KGB had operation RYAN, designed to see if the west and the USA were getting ready for nuclear war; stocking up blood, killing cattle and freezing beef, etc. The USA had operation Able Archer, designed to practice nuclear weapons release in Europe. According to KGB Colonel Gordievsky (who was reporting to the Brits as well as Moscow) the KGB really thought this exercise might be the way to hide a suprise nuclear attack on the USSR, designed to take out Soviet command and control. He warned London ( who warned Washington) to back off these operation, and Able Archer ended early.
I think i might honor him, though it might be tough to honor a double agent. As for the article in the title of this thread, I am skeptical of the power this light colonel had; could he have launched ANY missles? I really doubt that a light colonel had nuclear launch authority; i honestly doubt that soviet nuclear command and control gives a mid level officer launch authority. my guess is that he was the officer who was to monitor the radar returns. When those returns indicated a launch he could have panicked, sounded the attack bell and perhpas inspired panic in the levels above him. He did not; he kept his head and reported what he really thought, that it was an error. Had he reported an incoming attack who knows what would have happened, but I do not think he had his finger "on the button".
Its easy to honor him ( this story has been around awhile) as the story is easy for the layman to understand and identify with. As for his current status, it is a shame that any retired Soviet officer would have to live under such conditions.
DougD
People forget how tense 1983 was. You had the very geriatric Soviet leadership, led by a very paranoid Andropov on one side, and a sabre rattling Reagan ( hey, i am a fan of his, but his policy was dangerous) who wanted to push and confront the USSR. The USA was doing constant air patrols around the soviet border (Eisenhower really started this; he loved to send USAF planes right up to the soviet border and then turn back to see what would happen); nuclear missles were being deployed in greater numbers inside Europe (the idea being that battlefield nuclear weapons would act as a quick trigger to general ICBM release, making possible nuclear war between the USA and USSR more likely); there were lots of little conflicts in the third world, etc. Into this flys KAL 007, gets shot down by the Red Air force and boom, you have another Franz Ferdinand assasination; we really could have had a war by mistake at this point.
The KGB had operation RYAN, designed to see if the west and the USA were getting ready for nuclear war; stocking up blood, killing cattle and freezing beef, etc. The USA had operation Able Archer, designed to practice nuclear weapons release in Europe. According to KGB Colonel Gordievsky (who was reporting to the Brits as well as Moscow) the KGB really thought this exercise might be the way to hide a suprise nuclear attack on the USSR, designed to take out Soviet command and control. He warned London ( who warned Washington) to back off these operation, and Able Archer ended early.
I think i might honor him, though it might be tough to honor a double agent. As for the article in the title of this thread, I am skeptical of the power this light colonel had; could he have launched ANY missles? I really doubt that a light colonel had nuclear launch authority; i honestly doubt that soviet nuclear command and control gives a mid level officer launch authority. my guess is that he was the officer who was to monitor the radar returns. When those returns indicated a launch he could have panicked, sounded the attack bell and perhpas inspired panic in the levels above him. He did not; he kept his head and reported what he really thought, that it was an error. Had he reported an incoming attack who knows what would have happened, but I do not think he had his finger "on the button".
Its easy to honor him ( this story has been around awhile) as the story is easy for the layman to understand and identify with. As for his current status, it is a shame that any retired Soviet officer would have to live under such conditions.
DougD
