Should the U.S. De-Alert It's Land-Based Nuclear Missiles?

13 Minutes To Doomsday -- Washington Post editorial

THROUGHOUT THE Cold War, the United States kept land-based missiles with nuclear warheads on alert and ready to launch in three to four minutes after the president gave the order. Every president of the missile age was briefed about the procedure: In the event of an impending attack, the decision to launch would have to be made in 13 minutes or less. The theory of deterrence was that the United States had to threaten certain and large-scale retaliation against the Soviet Union, and that meant being prepared to shoot fast.

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My Comment: I can see the logic in 'de-alerting' our land based nuclear missiles. It lessens the chance of an accidental launch, and we will still have our submarine nuclear deterrent intact. Will Russian President Putin see this the same way .... from what I am reading in the Russian press, I will have to say no .... especially since the issue of missile defense has not been resolved.