So if the scene with the big board and the president talking to all his advisors doesn’t need to happen, what actually does need to happen? The protocol for launching a nuclear weapon is highly secretive, but the main components are known. Neither of these scenarios requires the president to consult with experts. First use means being the first to use nuclear weapons in a conflict. Retaliation involves responding to a nuclear attack with a nuclear attack. The details are complex, but both are essentially what they sound like. There are two kinds of nuclear strikes, retaliation and first use. But, again, there’s no requirement that he consult with anyone.īefore we go any further, let’s get our terms straight. They can, and our command and control system is designed so that he can get in contact with advisors that he wants to speak to. So there’s no requirement that the president consult with anyone. There’s no stopgap, there’s no other people he has to consult. Gabrielle SIERRA: OK, so the only person that is in charge of launching a nuclear attack is the president? This means they spend every day thinking about how to prevent nuclear war.

Today, a look inside the rules for nuclear launch in the United States, and the risks of giving one person so much power.Ībigail STOWE-THURSTON: And my name is Abigail Stowe-Thurston.īell and Stowe-Thurston are both experts at the Center for Arms Control and Nonproliferation, an NGO that focuses on nuclear security. I’m Gabrielle Sierra, and this is Why It Matters. president has sole authority to launch a nuclear weapon, and he can technically do so at any time. That meeting with experts in the situation room? Doesn’t have to happen. For most of us, this is how we think it works in real life.īut, it turns out, there is no law that says the president must run his decision by an advisor. A president in a room with generals and serious looking advisors, discussing whether or not to launch a nuclear weapon.

We’ve seen this go down in movies dozens of times. President.Does anyone disagree with that assessment? President we’re running out of time.There has to be a better option than just responding in kind to an all-out attack it would almost certainly bring about a nuclear winner.There’s only one way to fulfill your constitutional obligation Mr. President I strongly advise major attack option one.I concur.Anything less than the most devastating counter strike invites a second wave.Mr.

Big red button website