Winds of Change.NET: The Man Who Saved the World

January 15, 2005

The Man Who Saved the World

by Joe Katzman at January 15, 2005 9:08 PM

Some people dream of saving the world. Back in 1983, this guy did. Thank you, Stanislav Petrov.

"The warning system was by now showing five missile launches in the U.S., headed toward the Soviet Union. The �START� command Petrov was expected to give would have started an irreversible chain reaction in a system geared to launch a counter-strike without human interference.

�The main computer wouldn�t ask me [what to do] � it was made so that it wouldn�t even ask. It was specially constructed in such a way that no one could affect the system�s operations.� All that was up to Petrov was analyzing the available information and either saying the alarm was false or giving the computer the go-ahead, as per the directive he himself wrote."

Stanislav Petrov didn't get a ticker-tape parade. What he did that day ended his military career, and he has lived in poverty for many years now. Moscow News has more coverage of Lt. Col. Petrov, and some good news about his recent situation.

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Comments

#1 from T. J. Madison at 11:53 pm on Jan 15, 2005

I consider every member of the SRF who would rather sell his blood to buy food rather than sell the nuclear weapon he guards to be my personal friend. If tomorrow morning Major Ivan Ivanov Ivanovich shows up on my front door and needs a place to crash for a few weeks, he'll be most welcome.

I'd now like to extend this offer to Stan. Stan is most definitely the Man. I should go dig around for a way to send Stan some cash and/or gear, as thanks for not mistakenly reducing me to a hot plasma.

#2 from Joe Katzman at 9:13 am on Jan 16, 2005

Stan the Man Petrov can crash at my place any time. Too bad I'm not rich like George Soros, or he'd have a lot more than that.

#3 from slimedog at 1:12 pm on Jan 16, 2005

When I was a 2Lt in the mid 70's, I was one of Petrov's opposite numbers at NORAD's Cheyenne Mountain. Every day we were "ready" to warn of the start of global nuclear war, armed with teletypes and vacuum-tube computers (might as well have been drums and an abacus). I recall a few scary moments, but never to the extreme that LtCol Petrov experienced. Well done, sir, that was an EXTREMELY tough call.

#4 from Brian H at 8:26 pm on Jan 16, 2005

If this man doesn't get enough donations to keep him comfortable for the rest of his life, I will be very disappointed. When I have some, and know how and where to send it, I will. If he sets up a PayPal account, at least.

#5 from Janus Daniels at 6:40 am on Feb 05, 2005

Donations:
http://www.brightstarsound.com/
(at bottom of page)

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