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'I Was Just Doing My Job': Soviet Officer Who Averted Nuclear War Dies at Age 77
A Soviet officer who prevented a nuclear crisis between the US and the USSR and possible World War III in the 1980s has quietly passed away. He was 77. In 2010 RT spoke to Stanislav Petrov, who never considered himself a hero. We look at the life of the man who saved the world.
A decision that Soviet lieutenant colonel Stanislav Petrov once took went down in history as one that stopped the Cold War from turning into nuclear Armageddon, largely thanks to Karl Schumacher, a political activist from Germany who helped the news of his heroism first reach a western audience nearly two decades ago.
On September 7, Schumacher, who kept in touch with Petrov in the intervening years, phoned him to wish him a happy birthday, but instead learned from Petrov's son, Dmitry, that the retired officer had died on May 19 in his home in a small town near Moscow.
On September 26, 1983, Stanislav Petrov was on duty in charge of an early warning radar system in a bunker near Moscow, when just past midnight he saw the radar screen showing a single missile inbound from the United States and headed toward the Soviet Union.
"When I first saw the alert message, I got up from my chair. All my subordinates were confused, so I started shouting orders at them to avoid panic. I knew my decision would have a lot of consequences," Petrov recalled of that fateful night in an interview with RT in 2010.
...
It was later revealed that what the Soviet satellites took for missiles launch was sunlight reflected from clouds.
Many of us feel that one person can't make a real difference in the world. Stanislov Petrov did.
R.I.P. Stanislav Petrov, the man who saved the world
The Guardian and other news sources report, that Soviet Colonel Stanislav Petrov has died, age 77.
Petrov has become (not very) famous, because in 1983 his quick decision making averted a possible nuclear war.
I think that we, humans, are bad at recognizing significant events that led to everything continuing as normal..
(Score: 2, Disagree) by Runaway1956 on Thursday September 21 2017, @02:25AM (5 children)
There are protocols. You who live in fear of Trump are simply unaware that the protocols exist. Thus, you have no idea how they might work. No, we can't elect a madman who arbitrarily decides to start the final war. The madman would require an entire cadre supporting his decision.
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday September 21 2017, @02:46AM
"On behalf of the entire senior staff around you, Mr. President, we thank you for the opportunity and the blessing that you've give us to serve your agenda and the American people. And we're continuing to work very hard every day to accomplish those goals."--Reince Priebus
"It’s an honor to be able to serve you."--Jeff Sessions
"I am privileged to be here. Deeply honored.”--Alexander Acosta
"What an incredible honor it is to lead the Department of Health and Human Services at this pivotal time under your leadership. I can’t thank you enough for the privileges you’ve given me and the leadership that you’ve shown."--Tom Price
"A lot of us just got back from Mississippi. They love you there."--Sonny Perdue
"President Trump has a magnetic personality and exudes positive energy, which is infectious to those around him. He has an unparalleled ability to communicate with people. . . . He is brilliant with a great sense of humor."--Hope Hicks
(Score: 3, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday September 21 2017, @04:04AM (3 children)
Citation to those protocols? You're probably the one who doesn't know what they are or how they work. All those involved are only supposed to confirm that the launch order came from the President not whether it was correct or a good idea:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2016/12/01/no-one-can-stop-president-trump-from-using-nuclear-weapons-thats-by-design/ [washingtonpost.com]
http://www.slate.com/articles/life/the_spectator/2011/02/an_unsung_hero_of_the_nuclear_age.html [slate.com]
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/retropolis/wp/2017/08/09/what-if-the-president-ordering-a-nuclear-attack-isnt-sane-a-major-lost-his-job-for-asking/ [washingtonpost.com]
The only official option is:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twenty-fifth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution#Section_4:_Vice_Presidential.E2.80.93Cabinet_declaration [wikipedia.org]
(which is slow)
The non-protocol option is for those around to incapacitate Trump if he tries to launch nukes and it appears to be a crazy decision.
After he starts the process, all the soldiers down the line probably have been conditioned to follow those orders. The Military takes great measures to weed out the Major Herings.
(Score: 3, Funny) by bob_super on Thursday September 21 2017, @05:55AM
Indeed, Trump is very busy demonstrating that many of the safeguards that people thought existed to control Presidential powers are just unwritten, and relying on a gentleman's conduct to uphold.
He CAN have conflicts of interests, pardon just about anyone, hire his family or anyone who gives him cash, and also nuke anyone in the world without having to justify it. (list non exhaustive)
(Score: 2, Disagree) by Runaway1956 on Thursday September 21 2017, @06:03PM (1 child)
Not a "real" citation, but this guy is fairly knowledgable: https://www.quora.com/Step-by-step-what-is-the-process-required-for-the-United-States-to-launch-a-nuclear-weapon [quora.com] Scroll down to Wilton's answer.
TBH, I'm not finding much that looks "official" in regards to launch protocols. But, you need to remember that the military has control of these weapons. No politicos actually have possession of missiles, bombs, rockets, torpedos, or even direct access to satellites that might be home to nukes. Depending on the launch called for, multiple flag officers will have to sign off on the launch. The president doesn't pick up the phone, and mutter a few code words to a Spec 4 who pushes the button.
Or, to state that in other words, the politicians will have to convince a cadre of professionals that it is necessary to launch a nuclear strike.
The military does have established doctrine, in regards to all weapons, not just nuclear weapons. Precious few, if any, military personnel are eagerly awaiting the opportunity to launch a nuclear strike. Those few are probably broom pushers wearing E-1 to E-4 insignia.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday September 21 2017, @09:28PM
(source [vox.com])