The UK and France have signed a Defense and Security Cooperation Agreement (English|French) that provides, among other things, for common stockpile stewardship activities: 7. We have decided: [snip] b) to collaborate in the technology associated with nuclear stockpile stewardship in support of our respective independent nuclear deterrent capabilities, in full compliance with our international obligations, …
The Stability-Instability Paradox
by | 2010-11-02 | 13 Comments
Two questions were paramount after the destructive power of atomic weapons was revealed. Some, depending on temperament and instinct, asked whether the capability to make such weapons might possibly be placed under international control. Others, assuming failure in this pursuit, asked how the United States could most effectively prevent further battlefield use of nuclear weapons. …
Biscuits, Cookies, and Nuclear Bombs
by | 2010-10-27 | 18 Comments
Start the clip at about 5:04. General Turgidson: Mr. President, about thirty-five minutes ago, General Jack Ripper, the commanding General of Burpleson Air Force Base, issued an order to the 34 B-52’s of his wing which were airborne at the time as part of a special exercise we were holding called Operation Dropkick. Now, it …
Out of Control
by | 2010-10-26 | 37 Comments
Noah Shachtman at Wired and Marc Ambinder at The Atlantic are both reporting a doozy of a story regarding an event at F.E. Warren AFB this weekend, when a power failure resulted in 50 nuclear ICBMs going into “launch facility down” (LF down) status for approximately 45 minutes. As Ambinder describes it: On Saturday morning, …
