Red Mosquito

tragabigzanda wrote:

simple schoolboy wrote:

tragabigzanda wrote:I've been reading the Nuclear War book and one thing stood out to me last night: In the event of a nuclear attack on the US, in the ~26 minutes between when the launch is detected and when it hits its US target, the chain of command for retaliation action goes from the head of STRATCOM directly to POTUS -- no intermediary, no one else gets to decide, really no one else in the driver's seat, at least according to what I've read so far.

I have to think that having a POTUS of diminished mental faculties has some serious implications here, right?

The Ruskies apparently have some orbiting anti-satellite weapons. Do we even have backup ground based radars anymore? If they take out our space based IR early detection system, what do?

Yes, there's actually a five-story detection radar in Alaska that scans the horizon. It's strategically positioned as a "second confirmation" unit, e.g. after the satellites see it, then this ground monolith gets a visual confirmation...but it's quite a bit later, like several minutes after launch (the book is all built on the hypothesis that the nuke is coming from NK).

tragabigzanda wrote:

simple schoolboy wrote:

tragabigzanda wrote:

simple schoolboy wrote:

tragabigzanda wrote:I've been reading the Nuclear War book and one thing stood out to me last night: In the event of a nuclear attack on the US, in the ~26 minutes between when the launch is detected and when it hits its US target, the chain of command for retaliation action goes from the head of STRATCOM directly to POTUS -- no intermediary, no one else gets to decide, really no one else in the driver's seat, at least according to what I've read so far.

I have to think that having a POTUS of diminished mental faculties has some serious implications here, right?

The Ruskies apparently have some orbiting anti-satellite weapons. Do we even have backup ground based radars anymore? If they take out our space based IR early detection system, what do?

Yes, there's actually a five-story detection radar in Alaska that scans the horizon. It's strategically positioned as a "second confirmation" unit, e.g. after the satellites see it, then this ground monolith gets a visual confirmation...but it's quite a bit later, like several minutes after launch (the book is all built on the hypothesis that the nuke is coming from NK).

They just develop longer range missiles/ reduce payload and come over the south pole. Simple as.

Kinda like the Norks working to defeat South Korean ABM defences by using a lofted trajectory.

Sure... The author says out of the gate that the book only covers technology that her sources -- which are all listed, and it's exhaustive and impressive -- are willing to discuss. And then I know from my professional life that there's lots happening in photonics and the like, I just assume the south pole scenario has already been dealt with.

Bi_3 wrote:Doggone it

wease wrote:

Bi_3 wrote:Doggone it

There are a few different ways to interpret your comment. Care to expand?

BurtReynolds wrote:That's never stopped him before.

It is weird that he's being quiet and letting Biden defeat himself. It's got to be driving him crazy not getting all the attention though.

B wrote:I don't see anything. https://www.instagram.com/stonecarpente ... U0Ym4ybGJu