Quote:
Originally posted by lifesaver
AKA, dont give Bush any ideas. The only reason they havent been used yet is cause Bushie probably hasnt figured out where the 'start' button is.
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He doesn't have to. Contrary to popular belief, there is NO nuclear red button. The military aides to the President of the United States (a job that is regularly rotated by all four services and the Coast Guard) carry an armored briefcase called the 'Presidential Emergency Satchel', popularly known as the 'nuclear football'.
The exact contents are - of course - highly classified, but it's safe to say it carries secure communications equipment and the nuclear war playbook, called the SIOP (Single Integrated Operational Plan), as well as a listing of emergency evacuation locations for the continuity of the government.
The military aides undergo an extremely thorough TOP SECRET/SIOP-ESI (Extremely Sensitive Information) background investigation supposedly called 'Yankee White'. Once thoroughly vetted as to his or her loyalty to the United States, the aides are also briefed on the SIOP and how to activate the briefcase.