The man who saved the world

[mizkit]

On September 26, 1983, Stanislav Petrov, a Soviet lieutenant colonel, correctly interpreted a satellite early warning system’s notification that the United States had launched a nuclear attack on the USSR as a false alarm, and chose not to pursue the line of doctrine that would have assured mutual destruction.

Petrov doesn’t consider himself a hero

Comments

[unixronin]

I'll second that.

[sinanju]

Stephen Falken: Those blips are not real missiles. They're phantoms.
McKittrick: Jack, there's nothing to indicate a simulation at all. Everything is working perfectly!
Stephen Falken: But does it make any sense?
General Beringer: Does what make any sense?
Stephen Falken: [Points to the screens] That!
General Beringer: Look, I don't have time for a conversation right now.
Stephen Falken: General, are you prepared to destroy the enemy?
General Beringer: You betcha!
Stephen Falken: Do you think they know that?
General Beringer: I believe we've made that clear enough.
Stephen Falken: Then don't!...
--from War Games

Here's to Stanislav Petrov!

[captainlucy]

*stands*
*salutes*

[brombear]

Sooooo...after reading about him on Wiki, and another article...the world was saved by Soviet Propaganda...in the form of "The Party said the Americans would do an all out attack...5 missiles isn't logical...the system is new...it must be a glitch."

[tayefeth]

Frankly, I don't care, as long as the world doesn't go up in mushroom clouds and nuclear fallout...