[clive milne]

I did for a time work for an ex-USAF officer (out of Singapore)
His former role was at the level of directing the deployment of nuclear weapons. He served in the Cuban, Korean and Vietnamese theatres (of war).

It would be fair to say that he (and some of his colleagues) left the air force with an implacable sense of absolute and utter contempt for the upper (political) echelons of the hierarchy.

He recalled that at the hight of the Cuban missile crisis, it was his daily routine to supervise the nuclear weapons loaded on to the bombers.
The flight crew's orders were to proceed to the target and drop them unless they were told otherwise when they got there... at which point, they were to enter a holding pattern (over Cuba) until the fuel ran out.. then return home to fuel up again.

I think it germane to the discussion to point out that Khrushchev's decision to bring nukes to Cuba was in response to the highly provocative stationing of nuclear weapons (by the US) on Russia's door step in Turkey and Italy. It is also worth noting that the reason for the punitive treatment that Cuba has been subjected to (for the last 5 decades) relates to Castro telling certain American financial instruments (we are talking the vultures attached to the oil industry) If you wont respect our national sovereignty, you can basically flick off.. They laughed in Castro's face, He nationalised the oil fields, and the US chose to act as the enforcer for gangster capitalism in response. (as it has done repeatedly and continues to do so till this very day)... This is where Bush senior made a significant portion of his money, he was a CIA NOC, hiding behind an oil industry servicing company as cover.... As history will show, the Bush family went on to become intimately involved with the Bin Ladens - one of the largest construction companies in the Middle East - contracted to build the extensive underground military installations in Afghanistan - sucking the soviets in to an un-winnable war.. Syria anyone?

As a side note... Australia in roughly the same time period, was being milked by the same oilygarchs ... domestically, there was public support and much debate about holding a royal commission in to the affairs of the global oil industry and how it was taking the pi$$ out of Australia... The US state department called the Australian ambassador in to his office to 'clarify' our relationship with America...

quote/unquote... If you proceed with this royal commission and it negatively impacts our trading terms, we reserve the right to destabilise your country politically and economically.. until such time as you reconsider.

The difference between Cuba and Australia might be described as that Castro gave them the bird... we licked their boots.

Khrushchev was later to admit that he backed down because he came to the realisation that he was dealing with the clinically insane.. Bullys who genuinely would incinerate the planet if they didn't get their way.

The world is no different today.

Oh, and one final anecdote from my friend (in the USAF)
One of his fellow officers was called in when his term of service was up.
Glenn described him as this big, loud, baritone, bourbon sipp'n, sax play'n, black guy from Louisiana ... The senior officers express surprise... "why? we assumed you would be a career man in the air force... His response... (classic)
Man, a career guy? you gotta be kidd'n me. When I walk out of here, I'm going to have to find me a back alley where I can suck c0ck for a year, just so I can reclaim my self respect.

Anyhoo... that's some back story for the period.