Thousands of pages of escalation scenarios and measures are detailed in planning documents. They’ve been wargamed hundreds of times, and in the great majority of scenarios once the U.S. and USSR are engaged in open conventional combat, the measure and counter-measures escalate to full nuclear launch. When delaying a reaction by even 15 minutes might mean the destruction of your strike forces on the ground, the incentive to strike first and massively becomes irresistible.
For a chilling history of the existential risks inherent in nuclear preparedness, read Command and Control by Eric Schlosser.
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Originally Posted by fotze
If this day gets you riled up, you obviously aren't numb to the disappointment yet to be a real fan.
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