Revisiting 'Fail-Safe' Page #2

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-So would I, but unfortunately--

Excuse me.

What's going on, General?

We've come up

with an unidentified flying object.

Until we know what it is for sure,

we consider it hostile.

So what do you do about it?

We've gone to Condition Blue.

That's our lowest level of readiness.

As you saw, we always have

a certain number of bombers in the air.

They have been told

we're at Condition Blue...

...so now they'll now fly

to their Fail Safe points.

-Put that up for me, please.

-Yes.

Different for each group

and changes from day to day.

The Fail Safe is a fixed point in the sky...

...where the bombers orbit

till they get a positive order to go in.

Without that order, they come home.

No bomber can proceed

on its own discretion.

-You get that order by radio, right?

-But not verbally.

This is of course highly classified.

The attack order is transmitted

to a small box...

...on the aircraft

that we call the Fail Safe box.

This box is operated by a code...

...which can function

only at the express order of the President.

Seven minutes to Fail Safe.

When we go to Condition Blue

it goes on automatically...

...at seven minutes and starts

a countdown. Nothing unusual.

Why don't you just give them

a direct verbal yes or no...

...and save yourselves all this trouble?

Voices can be imitated.

An enemy comes up on

the same radio frequency...

...imitates the voice of the President,

it can send whatever message it wants.

No, there can't be any interference

with the box. We've seen to that.

There's nothing unusual

about Condition Blue?

No. This is Standard Operating Procedure.

We've sent fighter aircraft up

to identify the bogie.

You said it could be hostile.

We have to regard it as hostile.

That doesn't mean that it is.

-Doesn't mean it isn't.

-This happens five or six times a month.

After Blue, we still have to go to

Condition Yellow, Condition Green...

...and then Condition Red.

And Condition Red is?

War.

Maybe this time it's a real UFO.

From outer space? I wouldn't mind that.

Give us something to worry about

besides the Russians.

I read your memo

on counterforce credibility.

I don't think that's what Groteschele

is going to talk about today.

You mean you don't want me

to bring it up.

Maybe not today.

Someone's got to talk about it.

This whole policy of overkill,

piling bombs on top of bombs...

...figuring even if they hit us first,

we can still destroy them.

-It's crazy.

-It's a crazy world.

-Good morning, gentlemen.

-Good morning, Mr. Secretary.

I think you all know Mr. Groteschele, here.

He's been gracious enough

to give us more of his valuable time...

...on a subject

we're all naturally concerned about.

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