I need help...

[rxg360 12]

I was told to research A2's for "Expand warning levels."

 

The problem:

I have no idea what this is.

 

 

Can someone help?

[Dave 155]

ask your coach?

[hylanddd 468]

Well..A2 is shorthand for Answer Too - as in you have been asked to research answers to increased warning levels. I assume, since this is college debate, you have been asked by your coach to research answers to the argument that increasing warning time on launches would be beneficial, allowing, perhaps, for more time to defuse the launch. You might try reading up on Launch on Warning posture, and seeing what the literature says about expanding those gaps between warning of an incoming strike and launching in return. You might try looking at the literature surrounding the norwegian weather rocket that almost triggered a nuclear war when the Soviets misread it as an incoming warhead - only a delay in their launch and having time to figure out that it wasn't a nuclear attack saved the day.

 

I wish you luck. Hope this helps. H.

[robllawrence 972]

I'm pretty sure Duane is right. (grudgingly admitted. )

 

Search terms: Miscalculation, nuclear posture, "hair trigger" de-alert, dead man's trigger, Launch on Warning

[Dave 155]

you might have also mistaken it for "expanded warming levels."

[koslow 156]

You might try looking at the literature surrounding the norwegian weather rocket that almost triggered a nuclear war when the Soviets misread it as an incoming warhead

 

You might also research the three times almost the exact same thing happened to trigger a US launch (one of which was *way* more embarrassing).

[Carpe Noctem 134]

You might also research the three times almost the exact same thing happened to trigger a US launch (one of which was *way* more embarrassing).

 

This actually has happened a number of times.... iirc, 1979 is the one you're likely referencing.

 

 

Scene: NORAD.

"OH SHIT OH SHIT RUSSKIES NUKIN' US OH SHIT BLOW 'EM UP MISSILES FLYIN' THROUGH THE AIR RIGHT NOW"

A few minutes pass as NORAD deliberates...a staff member has a realization.

"So.... I um.... think I loaded the training tape.... on accident. Shit."

"You're not expecting us to give you a good reference for your next job or anything, right?"

[gargamel 1328]

There are 20 such incidents listed in the Russ Kick book "Disinformation Book of Lists." The information is provided by Alan F. Phillips from waging peace. Obviously this list simply scratches the surface, here are my favorites:

 

November 5, 1956

Suez Crisis coincidence

A series of coincidences leads the U.S. to believe the soviets have launched against france and britian, almost results in activation of NATO plans for soviet strikes

 

November 24, 1961

BMEWS communication failure

All communications between SAC and NORAD are lost indicating a nuclear strike. Bombers are readied but not deployed. The reason was because all the redundant lines went through a single routing station in Colorado which suffered mechanical failure

 

August-October 1962

U2 flights into Soviet airspace

High altitude U2 plan is given different orders and strays into soviet airspace. MIGs are dispatched to shoot the plane down while nuclear armed (pilot's discretion!) F102-As are deployed to escort the U2 and keep the MIGs out of US airspace

 

October 25, 1962

Cuban missile crisis: intruder in Duluth

A bear is mistaken for a saboteur at a Duluth air force base and the "Sabotage alarm" is triggered, which automatically sets off the alarms at all bases in the area. Volk base was wired wrong and nuclear armed F-106As were scrambled. The pilots were aware there were no training exercises at DEFCON 3 and thought this was the real deal. They were stopped by a car at the end of the runway.

 

October 28, 1962

Cuban missile crisis: Moorsetown false alarm

A test tape simulating a Cuban missile attack is run at exactly the same moment a satellite came over the horizon. Radar operators at Moorsetown notified NORAD which readied a response. Detonations were to occur at 9:02 am, but never happened.

 

November 9, 1979

Computer exercise tape

Another test tape is run and confused for live events. This time it happened at 4 command centers simultaneously (NORAD, SAC, Pentagon, Backup Pentagon). The training exercise depicted a full-scale soviet attack which is exactly what everyone thought was happening. The hotline to the soviets was never used, but satellite information eventually showed that no missiles were launched.

 

June 1980

Faulty computer chip

Broken computer chip shows massive launch against the US at 4 command centers (above) . . . not once, but TWICE. Bombers were scrambled, mobile command deployed and minutemen missiles readied.

[bankey 58]

The Norwegian weather rocket incident occured on January 25, 1995 during Yeltsin's administration. It was the only time a Soviet/Russian President opened their nuclear briefcase with the intent of launching on the US.