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In light of recent developments, a redo of my 2017 nuclear football thread.
Jokes about Trump and the nuclear codes are well-worn. But most people don’t realize how it all actually works, so I’m going to explain. Warning: you will find this thread distressing.
Jokes about Trump and the nuclear codes are well-worn. But most people don’t realize how it all actually works, so I’m going to explain. Warning: you will find this thread distressing.
Keep two concepts in mind. There’s *command* and *control*. They are exactly what they sound like. Command is the power to order a nuclear attack, or any attack really (see “National Command Authority”).
Control are the men and women who follow the orders, from the Secretary of Defense to COs/XOs to the personnel who physically turn the launch keys.
There is a “two-man rule” in place throughout the control apparatus, but realistically it takes many more than two.
There is a “two-man rule” in place throughout the control apparatus, but realistically it takes many more than two.
For example, it's not possible for the commanding officer of a nuclear submarine to launch its missiles some night on a drunken whim.
Now let’s talk command. The launch codes are called “gold codes” and they change daily. They are on POTUS’s person, like a credit card.
Now let’s talk command. The launch codes are called “gold codes” and they change daily. They are on POTUS’s person, like a credit card.
(Fun fact: Reagan’s card fell out of his jacket and onto the emergency room floor the day he was shot.)
This card – aka ‘the biscuit’ – has several codes on it. POTUS has to *memorize* where on the card the correct code is. (The location of the code, not the code itself.)
This card – aka ‘the biscuit’ – has several codes on it. POTUS has to *memorize* where on the card the correct code is. (The location of the code, not the code itself.)
To effect a nuclear launch, the following things are needed:
1. POTUS, for launch codes and selection of attack plan;
2. The “football”, more formally referred to as the Presidential Emergency Satchel;
3. Verification from Secretary of Defense.
1. POTUS, for launch codes and selection of attack plan;
2. The “football”, more formally referred to as the Presidential Emergency Satchel;
3. Verification from Secretary of Defense.
#3 is very important, and is commonly misunderstood.
The Secretary of Defense must VERIFY the President’s order (that is, verify that it is an authentic order originating from the President), but has NO legal authority to override it.
The Secretary of Defense must VERIFY the President’s order (that is, verify that it is an authentic order originating from the President), but has NO legal authority to override it.
If SecDef refused to verify the order, POTUS could just fire him and order Acting SecDef to verify order. And he can keep firing people until a successor verifies the order.
So yeah - remember the “two-man rule” we talked about earlier? It doesn't exist at the command level.
So yeah - remember the “two-man rule” we talked about earlier? It doesn't exist at the command level.
This, to me, is the most dangerous part of an unwell President. He has the unilateral power to order the death of millions (or more) of people around the globe, to set civilization back millennia, or even set into motion a chain reaction that would extinguish us entirely,
and the best we can do is hope that dozens of lower-level military officers will say “no, sir, I will not turn that key”.
/end (although I'll try to come back later and add some reading material).
/end (although I'll try to come back later and add some reading material).
