Roger Fisher in The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, March 1981

["Dave Farber" <farber () gmail com>]

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Rich Kulawiec <rsk () gsp org>
> Date: August 11, 2017 at 12:42:41 PM EDT
> To: Dave Farber <dave () farber net>
> Cc: Richard Forno <rforno () infowarrior org>, Lauren Weinstein <lauren () vortex com>
> Subject: Roger Fisher in The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, March 1981
>
> (for IP, if you wish)
>
> h/t to Steve Silberman
>
>    Roger Fisher:
>
>    My favorite activity is inventing.  An early arms control proposal
>    dealt with the problem of distancing that the President would
>    have in the circumstance of facing a decision about nuclear war.
>    There is a young man, probably a Navy officer, who accompanies
>    the President.    This young man has a black attache case which
>    contains the codes that are needed to fire nuclear weapons.
>    I could see the President at a staff meeting considering nuclear
>    was as an abstract question.  He might conclude: "On SIOP Plan
>    One, the decision is affirmative.  Communicate the Alpha line
>    XYZ."  Such jargon holds what is involved at a distance.
>
>    My suggestion was quite simple: Put that needed code number in
>    a little capsule, and then implant that capsule right next to
>    the heart of a volunteer.  The volunteer would carry with him
>    a big, heavy butcher knife as he accompanied the President.
>    If ever the President wanted to fire nuclear weapons, the only
>    way he could do so would be for him first, with his own hands,
>    to kill one human being.  The President says, "George, I'm sorry
>    but tens of millions must die."  He has to look at someone and
>    realize what death is -- what an innocent death is.  Blood on
>    the White House carpet.  It's reality brought home.
>
>    What I suggested this to friends in the Pentagon, they said,
>    "My God, that's terrible.  Having to kill someone would distort
>    the President's judgment.  He might never push the button."



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