The man who saved the world... ( Archived) (12)

Thank you Vasili Arkhipov, the man who stopped nuclear war



50 years ago, at the height of the Cuban Missile Crisis, second-in-command Vasilli Arkhipov of the Soviet submarine B-59 refused to agree with his Captain's order to launch nuclear torpedos against US warships and setting off what might well have been a terminal superpower nuclearwar.

The US had been dropping depth charges near the submarine in an attempt to force it to surface, unaware it was carrying nuclear arms. The Soviet officers, who had lost radio contact with Moscow, concluded that World War 3 had begun, and 2 of the officers agreed to 'blast the warships out of the water'. Arkhipov refused to agree - unanimous consent of 3 officers was required - and thanks to him, the world was saved from being scarred badly.

His story is finally being told - the BBC is airing a documentary on it

There is one other....

Stanislav Petrov

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yes, later.... and different circumstances. but true also.

I had a quick read through the Guardian's article. I happened upon this:

"On one occasion, Jimmy Carter, the sanest of US presidents, left nuclear launch codes in his suit when it was sent to the dry cleaners"

I wonder what our American friends here would have to say about that.

Wow. I thought it was David Bowie.