Notwithstanding Al Roker's exclusive inside the silo report this morning, I have seen and done things few civilians, not to mention military personnel, have ever done. Follow my Minuteman Missile story after the fold for yet another reason to vote for Barack Obama.
Al Roker's exclusive this morning was broadcast from Malmstrom AFB in Great Falls, MT. I grew up in Great Falls, and my closest friends were Air Force brats. I was on and off the Base many times, and even went over the fence one night instead of through the gate.
Malmstom's mission has changed over time. It was a key training base for pilots conducting bombing raids over Germany during WWII. Pilots and crew flying Berlin Air Lift missions trained for instrument-only landings under cover of darkness to bring relief to West Berlin. At one time in the late 1980s B-52 crews trained there. But its most important role was and is hosting the 341st Space Wing responsible for the Minuteman Missiles.
Growing up in the shadow of a First Strike target was just part of life -- you went about your daily business and tried not to think too much about it. Sonic booms from F-15s scrambling because early warning radar "saw" something were common. Driving from my grandmother's ranch to my other grandparents' house 35 miles away took us past two unassuming concrete buildings surrounded by a 12-foot chain fance topped with barbed wire, each labled with a plain sign: "A-24" or "B-33." Even though we tried to ignore it, what we feared most of all was seeing this:
But we had faith that our elected officials would be wise enough never to let us see multiple rocket trails in the sky.
Al Roker just took the Today Show audience into the heart of one of these silos -- B-6.
I probably have a greater appreciation and level of comfort with the nuclear safeguards in place than most. When I was thirteen years old, (and I may not remember everything perfectly, as that was a long time ago) my best friend's father, Captain Michael Molnar, took me and his son onto Malmstrom to a Minuteman launch training module. He explained how the call to launch would come in on the red phone (it is actually red and only rings in the event of a launch situation). The commanding officer would then verify the launch order with a seperate source. Then the second-in-command would verify the launch order from a third source. If, and only if, both officers agreed that they had a lawful launch order, they would retrieve the launch keys.
The launch consoles were about 20 feet apart and each required its key to be turned simultaneously with the other. Thus, one person could not launch a missile on his own. The officers would count down 3 - 2 - 1 - turn. Then the missiles would be on their way.
My friend and I simulated three launches that morning. We had to try several times to get the keys turned together, but we eventually got the hang of it. We chuckled about the possible targets -- Cuba? East Germany? Moscow?
Only after reaching adulthood did I grow out of, "That was so cool!" to, "What a grave responsibility."
I am thankful that we have a nuclear deterrent, but I am even more thankful that we have civilian control over the military and that we have dedicated, responsible and professional officers who are keenly aware of the burden they bear stationed at these silos all over my home state.
Hillary Clinton's recent statements about the U.S. response to Iran launching a nuclear strike against Israel cause me to worry about whether she may ask those officers to turn the keys. And for what? To show she was ready "from day one" to be Commander in Chief? Barack Obama appears to have the wisdom she lacks, to understand that the President is not only Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, but also the Chief Diplomat of foreign affairs. He also understands that sometimes the Commander in Chief must order the troops to stand down; just because you have a tool at your disposal does not mean you should use it.
Here's hoping the returns today bring added pressure on Clinton to drop out.