The doomsday machine was kept in a constant state of readiness from "summary" of The Doomsday Machine by Daniel Ellsberg
The doomsday machine, a term which I helped popularize, was not a fictional creation from a Hollywood film. It was a very real and very deadly system that existed during the Cold War. This machine, composed of intercontinental ballistic missiles armed with multiple nuclear warheads, was designed to unleash unprecedented destruction upon the world in the event of a nuclear war. The key feature of this doomsday machine was its constant state of readiness. This meant that at any given moment, the missiles were armed and ready to be launched within minutes notice. The rationale behind this constant state of readiness was to act as a deterrent to potential adversaries. The idea was that if the enemy knew that we could launch a devastating nuclear counterattack at a moment's notice, they would be less likely to initiate a nuclear strike in the first place. However, this constant state of readiness came with its own set of risks and dangers. The hair-trigger alert status meant that a false alarm or human error could potentially lead to an accidental nuclear launch. This was a very real concern, as there were numerous instances where technical glitches or misinterpretations of data nearly resulted in a catastrophic mistake. Despite the inherent risks, the doomsday machine was kept in this state of readiness for decades. It was a chilling reminder of the precarious nature of the nuclear arms race and the devastating consequences of any potential miscalculation or misjudgment. The concept of a doomsday machine serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers of nuclear weapons and the urgent need for disarmament and non-proliferation efforts.
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