Antinuclear

Eric Schlosser in Australia to talk about #nuclear weapons

Investigative journalist Eric Schlosser on America’s history of nuclear weapons, ABC, Lateline  By Amy Sherden US author Eric Schlosser, best known for his book and film Fast Food Nation, has revealed how small human errors and complacency have led to the United States almost blowing itself up on several occasions.

The investigative journalist has been researching America’s history of nuclear weapons for his book Command and Control: Nuclear Weapons, the Damascus Accident and the Illusion of Safety.

He delves into great detail on the “Damascus incident” of September 18, 1980, where a missile equipped with a nuclear warhead exploded in a launch silo at the Little Rock Air Force Base in Arkansas.

An airman conducting maintenance on the USAF Titan-II ballistic missile dropped a socket wrench about 24 metres, with the two-kilogram tool punching through the skin of the fuel tank.

The rupture caused a fuel leak and nine hours later the missile exploded.

An airman was killed and the launch complex was destroyed. But thanks to the warhead’s built-in safety features, it did not detonate.

Schlosser is in Australia for the Festival of Dangerous Ideas, talking about our delusions over nuclear weapons. Here are some of the key points from his interview with Lateline…….

September 3, 2015 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | General News