:32:02
Mr. President, there are one or two
points I'd like to make, ifI may?
:32:08
Go ahead, General.
:32:11
One: Our hopes for recalling
the 843rd Bomb Wing...
:32:16
are quickly being reduced
to a very low order ofprobability.
:32:20
Two: In less than 1 5 minutes
from now...
:32:23
the Ruskies will be making
radar contact with the planes.
:32:26
Three: When they do...
:32:28
theywill go absolutely ape and
strike backwith everything they've got.
:32:32
Four: Ifprior to this time...
:32:36
we have done nothing to suppress
their retaliatory capabilities...
:32:39
we will suffervirtual annihilation.
:32:46
Five: If, on the other hand...
:32:53
we immediately launched an attack
on their airfields and missile bases...
:32:58
we'd stand a damn good chance
ofcatching them with their pants down.
:33:01
Hell, we've got
a five-to-one missile superiority.
:33:04
We could easily assign three missiles
to every target...
:33:07
and still have a very effective reserve
force for any other contingency.
:33:10
Six: An unofficial studywhich
we undertook ofthis eventuality...
:33:16
indicated that we would destroy
90% oftheir nuclear capabilities.
:33:21
We would therefore prevail...
:33:23
and suffer only modest and acceptable
civilian casualties...
:33:26
from their remaining force which would
be badly damaged and uncoordinated.
:33:31
General, it is the avowed policy
ofour country...
:33:34
never to strike first
with nuclearweapons.
:33:36
Well, Mr. President, General Ripper
has already invalidated that policy.
:33:41
That was not an act ofnational policy.
There are still alternatives open to us.
:33:47
Mr. President, we are rapidly
approaching a moment oftruth...
:33:51
both for ourselves as human beings
and for the life ofour nation.
:33:55
Truth is not always a pleasant thing.
:33:57
But it is necessary now
to make a choice: