Do we need an Independant Nuclear Deterrant?
If the UK was facing a total defeat by an attacker using conventional forces or was in imminent risk or was attacked by a nuclear weapon....do you really thnk the UK Leadership would stand down if the US did not grant approval to their request/notice?
What does scare me is the thought there are amongst us folks who really want to and are willing to....turn that key and hit the launch buttons on things that will end life on this Earth.
Also....knowing how close we have come in the past on numerous occasions for the lack of or the inadequate communication between nations.....the thought the Button Pushers might actually get called into action by misfortune really does scare me.
What does scare me is the thought there are amongst us folks who really want to and are willing to....turn that key and hit the launch buttons on things that will end life on this Earth.
Also....knowing how close we have come in the past on numerous occasions for the lack of or the inadequate communication between nations.....the thought the Button Pushers might actually get called into action by misfortune really does scare me.
Last edited by SASless; 13th Oct 2012 at 14:49.
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No.
You are allowed to wonder whether the Pres. would not try to interfere if a rogue UK PM wished to take nuclear umbrage with a friend of US. But the A to your Q is that no such evidence has appeared, and the Agreements by which Polaris A3K, then Trident II D5 were provided, assign them to NATO/Saceur except "“in grave National Emergency”.
You are allowed to wonder whether the Pres. would not try to interfere if a rogue UK PM wished to take nuclear umbrage with a friend of US. But the A to your Q is that no such evidence has appeared, and the Agreements by which Polaris A3K, then Trident II D5 were provided, assign them to NATO/Saceur except "“in grave National Emergency”.
My point is a Nation's Leadership in times of absolute grave circumstances shall do what is in the best interest of the itself.....not what is written in a treaty. Survival of the Nation is paramount no matter how many reams of paper bind it to others.
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Peter Hennessey writes in "The Secret State" that each Trident submarine carries in a safe within its safe "The Prime Minister's 'last resort letter', written in his own hand, conveying his posthumous instructions to the captain and his executive officer." This arrangement allows for the case where the normal command arrangements are disrupted by a pre-emptive strike on the UK, and represents a case where US approval could not be obtained.
Are we talking a "Crimson Tide" situation here?
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
In Peter Hennesey's programme The Finger on the Button James Callaghan said he would indeed give the launch command. Dennis Healey, OTOH, a former card carrying member of the Communist Party, said he would not.
As far as I know, based on Hennesey's work, the chain of command was PM-AOC-in-C Bomber Command and, one presumes later Strike Command and the CinC Fleet. The Secretary of State for Defence was not in the loop as far as the deterrent was concerned.
For full use however it would have been the decision of the NAC/DPC.
As far as I know, based on Hennesey's work, the chain of command was PM-AOC-in-C Bomber Command and, one presumes later Strike Command and the CinC Fleet. The Secretary of State for Defence was not in the loop as far as the deterrent was concerned.
For full use however it would have been the decision of the NAC/DPC.
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The Last Letters are shredded as soon as new PM comes in so we don't know what's in them but it's thought they fall into 3 categories
1. Fire the lot off ASAP
2. Contact the Yanks and put yourself under their command
3. Sail to Australia or New Zealand and make them a Great Power
the trick is to fit the PM to the Category....... Wilson, Heath, Callaghan, Thatcher. Major, Blair...................
Personally I'd give them authority to sell to the highest bidder...........
1. Fire the lot off ASAP
2. Contact the Yanks and put yourself under their command
3. Sail to Australia or New Zealand and make them a Great Power
the trick is to fit the PM to the Category....... Wilson, Heath, Callaghan, Thatcher. Major, Blair...................
Personally I'd give them authority to sell to the highest bidder...........
Last edited by Heathrow Harry; 13th Oct 2012 at 18:15.
