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Obama’s briefcase of nuclear secrets

Obama’s briefcase of nuclear secrets
THE STANDARD 20 Jan 09 By David Wood and Agencies

It is a simple transfer of immense power. Today, an unobtrusive military officer carrying a briefcase will follow President George W Bush up to Capitol Hill.

After the inauguration ceremony, he will accompany President Barack Obama back to the White House. Inside the briefcase, known as ‘the football’, are codes to identify and authenticate a presidential order that could launch nuclear weapons and ignite a global holocaust.

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Routine to most Americans, perhaps astonishing to much of the world, this peaceful passing of ‘the football’ will propel Obama into a maelstrom………………The transfer of nuclear command and control from one US president to another is one of the most important rituals of the inauguration process, but which draws little public attention……………………………

Obama inherits the hot briefcase at volatile times. Iran and North Korea are rushing headlong toward building nuclear arsenals. And the main arms-reduction treaty with Russia expires next year.

The risk of nuclear war will grow during the next 20 years, US intelligence officers concluded last month. Surprise, in this realm, is almost a given.

The Standard | Online Edition :: Obama’s briefcase of nuclear secrets

January 20, 2009 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Uncategorized