Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Too Close For Comfort...!

You know, this happened in the not too distant past!

It may be that a simple oversight like this could bring down the whole house of cards the world governments have built over the years, only next time it will probably come from the middle East!

Just like the old saying goes, if we don't learn from our history we are more than likely going to repeat it!

Jan 25, 1995:
Near launching of Russian nukes

Russia's early-warning defense radar detects an unexpected missile launch near Norway, and Russian military command estimates the missile to be only minutes from impact on Moscow. Moments later, Russian President Boris Yeltsin, his defense minister, and his chief of staff were informed of the missile launch. The nuclear command systems switched to combat mode, and the nuclear suitcases carried by Yeltsin and his top commander were activated for the first time in the history of the Soviet-made weapons system. Five minutes after the launch detection, Russian command determined that the missile's impact point would be outside Russia's borders. Three more minutes passed, and Yeltsin was informed that the launching was likely not part of a surprise nuclear strike by Western nuclear submarines.

These conclusions came minutes before Yeltsin and his commanders should have ordered a nuclear response based on standard launch on warning protocols. Later, it was revealed that the missile, launched from Spitzbergen, Norway, was actually carrying instruments for scientific measurements. Nine days before, Norway had notified 35 countries, including Russia, of the exact details of the planned launch. The Russian Defense Ministry had received Norway's announcement but had neglected to inform the on-duty personnel at the early-warning center of the imminent launch. The event raised serious concerns about the quality of the former Soviet Union's nuclear systems.

I would like to thank the folks at History.com for reminding me of just how damned scary real life can be! I would hate to wake up dead from a nuclear attack, just because some meat-head somewhere didn't get the memo!

Before we go get our coffee, I'd like you to welcome a new blogger to our group! Please go by Life In Iowa and say hello to Sella, who is just getting started with her blog, OK? Thanks, guys!

Fresh coffee in the kitchen this morning. Cool and rainy outside, so the patio is no good!

12 comments:

Phyllis (N/W Jersey) said...

That is the reason you must treasure the people you love. You just never know when it's gonna end. Every day should be a blessing!
Coffee in the kitchen is fine - I'll bring the fresh biscuits!

Ben in Texas said...

Here again you are bringing up memories of history that I remember!!! Dang!! Are we really part of history now?
( had a cousin that claimed he was part of the Bay of Pigs thing back when as a mercenary solider )

linda m said...

Another "I never got the memo" story. This is getting really creepy and scary. Phyllis is right -treasure the people you love. You never know when they will be taken from you.

JO said...

That was the way they did things in back then in Russia. Hope that counrty will now stay with peace.

Coffee in the kithchen is fine by me.

Billy Bob said...

During the Cuban blockade (Cuban Missile Crisis) memos may have saved the onslaught of a nuclear war in the early 60's. Apparently memos were handled appropriately. One incident of a lost memo and all hell could have broke loose.
I was there, aboard a US destroyer "chasing" Russian submarines from the waters surrounding Cuba. No less than 10 eye witnesses aboard our ship spotted a motorized object coming directly at the stern of the ship. No it wasn't a fish. A "memo" from Washington stopped the Captain from taking dept charge action against the submarine we were tracking.

johnnyb said...

I was on board a destroyer doing blockade duty around the Suez Canal in June 1967. Very scary!!!

HermitJim said...

Hey Phyllis...
I couldn't have said it better myself!

Life is way too short! Appreciate it!

Thanks for coming by today!


Hey Ben...
That's an eye-opener, isn't it? Suddenly we are a part of history!

Guess I really am as old as I feel!

Thanks, buddy, for coming by today!


Hey Linda...
Scary and creepy is a good description, for sure!

Better hug those around you while you can! Tomorrow may just be too late!

Thanks for dropping by for a visit, my friend!


Hey JoJo...
We can only hope that everyone with their fingers on the button stays posted with the latest memo!

Glad to have you close in the kitchen this morning!

Thanks, sweetie, for dropping by today!


Hey Billy Bob...
Bet the Captain aged 10 years during that time!

Shows just how close we have come so many times! Un-nerving to say the least!

Thanks, my friend, for sharing that and for coming by!


Hey John...
I can only imagine! I think the worse thing that would happen would be the not knowing what was next!

Hey, I appreciate you coming by today!

Dizzy-Dick said...

It is amazing that we survived that era. Some of the close call stories from that time were more carry than fiction.

HermitJim said...

Hey Dizzy...
You know what they say...truth is stranger than fiction!

Let's hope that the PTB don't manage to blow us all up any time soon!

Thanks, my friend, for coming by today...stay dry!

Anonymous said...

Scary!
It's so easy to start a disaster just by being sloppy with information! I hope we're just as lucky the next time this happens, because it most likely will!

Have a great day!
Christer.

Sella said...

Love having coffee with your posts, thanks for the warm welcome Hermit!

TROUBLEnTX said...

Never forget the 3 days of the Cuban crisis. My friend Judy said she didn't know whether to get real religious, or do everything she ever wanted to. LOLOL Really bad time.