Suppose the President, Vice President, Speaker of the House, President Pro Tempore of the Senate, Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, and Secretary of the Treasury were incapacitated and the use of nuclear weapons was imperative to the national security of the United States. Who would have the authority to launch the nuclear weapons? Would it just be the next in line? Or would the generals be able to hit the button?
2007-01-10 14:03:29 · 9 answers · asked by stk1990 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
The bias in favor of launch on electronic warning is so powerful that it would take enormously more presidential will to withhold an attack than to authorize it. Like the guy mentioned above, SLBMs are ready to launch if they do not receive orders to the contrary.
The Pentagon top brass know full well that the U.S. nuclear command system would collapse under the weight of a Russian first strike, and that their ability to carry out their war plan (the Single Integrated Operational Plan) and achieve the high level of destruction of Russian (or Chinese) military and industrial facilities required by the war plan (which they themselves set at such high levels) depends completely on not waiting more than a few minutes before initiating a large-scale counterattack.
The only instance that the top civilian commanders would be knocked out all at once would most likely be the result of a pre-emptive first strike by the Russians.
I was wondering what the precautions or 'plan of action' was during President Ford's funeral. All the top civilian leaders seemed to be in the Church at the same time. I always thought the Pres. and Vice-Pres. had to be in different locations, but maybe i was wrong.
2007-01-10 14:43:17 · answer #1 · answered by Its not me Its u 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It goes right down the list of cabinet level officials.
Generals are not in the line of succession for the presidency, that was built into the Constitution to prevent the military from taking over control of the country.
2007-01-10 22:13:23 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Homer Simpson
2007-01-11 00:21:08 · answer #3 · answered by inzaratha 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Highest Ranking Senator or Congressman will order the firing of nukes in case all the senior officials were incapacitated.
2007-01-10 22:07:12 · answer #4 · answered by FRAGINAL, JTM 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I did the best research I could, but the your scenario is quite muddled. The best answer I could dig up is that in this case, final authority would rest with either Bobby Knight...or Conan O'Brien...it's hard to tell.
2007-01-10 22:20:17 · answer #5 · answered by Yinzer Power 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It used to be that if a sub lost contact with command the standing order was to launch
2007-01-10 22:14:21 · answer #6 · answered by corvuequis 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, just like in the military, it's probably the next person in the chain...then again, they'd probably have an enlisted Airman/Soldier/Sailor/Marine do it...lazy officers.
2007-01-10 22:08:34 · answer #7 · answered by USAF, Retired 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
According to the line of secession, it would be Carrottop.
2007-01-10 22:06:57 · answer #8 · answered by polk2525 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes probobly the generals.
WOW what a good question.
2007-01-10 22:06:36 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋