
Behind the Bastards Part Four: The Men Who Might Have Killed Us All
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Dec 10, 2025 Get ready for a dive into the chaotic world of nuclear weapons policies. Discover the sheer incompetence behind early ICBM drafts and the fear of accidental launches. From lost atomic bombs in the ocean to the terrifying implications of launch-on-warning systems, the discussion highlights chilling moments in military history. Ethical debates on deterrence strategies and risks of automation add a thought-provoking layer as well. Prepare for a sobering exploration of how close we came to global catastrophe!
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Authorized Field Launches Undermined Presidential Control
- President Eisenhower publicly framed nuclear response as defensive while authorizing field commanders to use nukes without presidential approval in specific situations.
- This decentralized authority made the common belief that only the president could order a nuclear strike false and increased accidental-war risk.
Always-Ready Bombers Created Constant Nuclear Risk
- Curtis LeMay kept bombers constantly armed and flying to guarantee readiness, creating frequent crashes and lost nuclear weapons.
- Thousands of nukes routinely moved worldwide, making loss and accidents alarmingly common.
Jettisoned Atom Bombs Lost Off New Jersey
- A C-124 cargo plane jettisoned three atom bombs over the ocean in 1957 and none were recovered despite shallow depths.
- Two MK-5 bombs remain missing, illustrating real lost nuclear devices.





