The strategy relied on a hairtrigger alert system from "summary" of The Doomsday Machine by Daniel Ellsberg
The strategy that was in place depended heavily on having a hair-trigger alert system. This meant that the United States' nuclear forces were constantly on high alert, ready to launch at a moment's notice. The idea behind this approach was to minimize the time it would take to respond to a potential nuclear attack. By having missiles and bombers armed and ready to go at all times, the thinking was that the US could deter any potential adversaries from launching a first strike. However, this system also came with significant risks. With such a hair-trigger alert system in place, the margin for error was extremely narrow. Any false alarms or misinterpretations of data could potentially lead to a catastrophic mistake. The possibility of accidental nuclear war was a very real concern, as the pressure to respond quickly in a crisis could result in hasty decisions that had devastating consequences. Furthermore, the reliance on a hair-trigger alert system also meant that there was little room for diplomatic solutions to conflicts. The emphasis on a rapid and overwhelming nuclear response left little time for negotiation or de-escalation. This heightened the potential for misunderstandings or miscalculations that could spiral out of control. In essence, the strategy of maintaining a hair-trigger alert system was a high-stakes gamble, where the consequences of failure were unthinkable. As the author delves into the details of this strategy, it becomes clear that the risks and implications of a hair-trigger alert system were deeply troubling. The constant state of readiness and the pressure to act swiftly in a crisis created a precarious balance that could easily tip into disaster. The very foundation of nuclear deterrence was built on the assumption that a hair-trigger alert system would prevent war, but in reality, it also increased the likelihood of catastrophic errors. The tense and urgent nature of the system meant that there was little margin for error, and the consequences of a mistake were too dire to contemplate.
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