Command and Control

Nuclear Weapons, the Damascus Accident, and the Illusion of Safety

by: Eric Schlosser

in: Military History

Summary:

The book delves into the history of nuclear weapons management and the risks associated with their deployment, focusing on a near-catastrophic accident at a missile silo in Damascus, Arkansas in 1980. It exposes the precarious balance between weapon safety and the potential for human error or technical failure within the U.S. nuclear arsenal.

Key points:

1. Illusion of Safety: The book argues that nuclear weapons safety is largely an illusion, with the risk of accidents and failures always present, as shown by the Damascus Accident.

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