Poetry, Part Eighteen

For every trainer "ride" and every check ride (standardization board evaluation) in one of the two missile launch control simulators on base, the simulation would always end with some scenario in which the missiles were enabled and both launch keys turned, indicating that one or more ICBM's were launched.

In the early years of single warheads on single missiles, with less sophisticated computer equipment and a very limited variety of launch scenarios, the simulations always involved all missiles being launched at the same time. As the MRVs (multiple reentry vehicles) and then the MIRVs (multiple independently targeted reentry vehicles) were designed and installed on the Minuteman III missiles, and more sophisticated nuclear war scenarios were envisioned and computerized within the targeting systems, a simulation could involve the launch of a single missile (with three nuclear warheads), or the launch of a few missiles, or the launch of many missiles or even, once again, the launch of all missiles in the 91st Strategic Missile Wing.

For anyone opposed to the use of nuclear weapons for war or as a viable instrument of national policy, this new situation was likely more disturbing rather than less. The military and the government could certainly envision, and more likely carry out, the launching of a single missile to deter an enemy. Whereas before the only solution was to launch all missiles or no missiles, now a solution could involve weighing several options. And the more options that were available, the more likely nuclear combat could become. (Or not. It depends upon your feelings about the notion of deterrence and military threats on a national level. Debating any of this would probably be as difficult as debating the effectiveness of the death penalty.)

I am also certain that many would not be comforted to learn that in all of our training and evaluations, we launched at least one missile with three nuclear warheads aboard at the end of the scenario. Of course, our overall mission was actually deterrence: we existed to try to prevent nuclear war by deterring any enemy from attacking the U.S. and its allies. If we failed in our mission of deterrence, then we were required to do our job of actually launching missiles in retaliation for being under attack.

Retribution

Between abundance and shortage,
losses and what is regained,
we match the measure of your impatience.
And while we wait
we train
and simulate that you have died uncounted times
when any could be your death.
Certain these are causes
turning the keys--
keys rotating to turn this world over
to new orders.
An improving method
of blasting off the old unworthy ways
no longer our way.
When the earth-thick skin
is pierced again with renewed eruption,
all will be revenge.
No more the mild alterations most never want;
and for those who are so often demanding,
there will be change.

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