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| Not a Game Console |
The device you see above is something that was never used for the reason it was manufactured for. This control panel is the launch control panel for a Titan missile that had on top of it a reentry vehicle that held three independently targeted nine-megaton nuclear bombs. To call this a control panel is somewhat misleading. In reality, there were only two things that were controlled by the officer who sat before this console. First, in the upper left -hand corner there are three lights. Directly above the button that is glowing (target 2) is a key hole. He could if ordered, change the target of his missile from target two to either target one or target three. To the commander, it was of little import because he did not know the destinations programmed for his missile. The second thing he could do is to insert his key into the keyhole to the right next to that innocuous row of lights, hold it for five seconds, and launch his missile. Of course seven feet or so to his left was the deputy commander who had to insert and turn his key and hold it for five seconds as well. Once started there was no turning back. There was no way to stop the missile from launching and there was no way to abort or destroy it. Thirty to thirty-five minutes after the key was turned, target two, some six thousand miles away would be no more.
I lived the majority of my life protected by missiles being manned 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, by dedicated professionals. Today we are protected with the Minute Man III and Minute Man Peacekeeper missile system by men no less dedicated than the ones that tended the Titans and Atlas missiles before. The payload, a euphemism for the bombs being carried on just one Minuteman surpasses the tonnage of bombs dropped in world war two including the two atomic bombs that were deployed.
Why is this loon, I hear you asking, bringing up this nonsense on a blog that normally deals with religious thought? Well, to be honest, I am afraid we are being played very skillfully by Vladimir Putin. He is biding his time, playing Vlad the Magnanimous as opposed to Obama the Destroyer. In the meantime, Vlad is pouring billions into refurbishing his nuclear arsenal, including a nineteen-eighties rail car silo system that constantly runs back and forth over the country. This former head of the KGB is just waiting for the Donald to take office because then it is off to the races. Vlad will use smoke and mirrors to distract Donald Trump while he builds unanswerable weapons systems and catches the United States with our pants down!
The Cold War Mark II is on the way. Unfortunately, we will have a man with a big ego in the highest office in the land. Trump has already said that he is not interested in the daily intelligence briefing which indicates that he is going to rely on his gut feelings. We've elected a man who will attempt to govern this country using the same methods that he used to govern his corporations. The difference this time is that if he makes a mistake, the bankruptcy court cannot save him (or us.) If Vladimir Putin can get the drop on us you can bet your life that the smiling, forgiving, uncle Vlad will turn into his namesake Vlad the Impaler, also known as Dracula.
The Russians are in the stronger position right now because of the personalities involved. The iron curtain may be rusty and falling into ruins but if it can be rebuilt, Vladimir Putin is the man that can do it.
Pray for the United States of America. Pray that we come together as a people, strong and united. Pray that God spares us from the worst of the worst mistakes that Donald Trump will make and for heaven's sake, see if you can find those plans for a backyard fallout shelter. You may need them.
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