Sometimes happen to have fatal consequences.
During the Cold war, any oversight of the military could be perceived as a direct threat to the enemy. And within a few decades the world has been repeatedly on the brink of disaster because of someone’s stupidity and lack of foresight.
Error message caused panic in the whole country
In the event of hurricanes and other natural disasters in the United States there is a special warning system. During the Cold war every week she was tested for the case of a nuclear attack from the Soviet Union. In 1971, during another test instead of the phrase “This is a test”, aired the message that the President will soon make a statement. Like lightning the news flashed on all channels. 45 minutes in the country was panic until I found the necessary code to cancel the first message.
The faulty computer chip showed a missile attack
June 3, 1980 in the office of the United air defense command USA (NORAD) one of the devices that changed their usual performance. If earlier it was “0 attacking missiles” at that point the employee saw the number “2”. Within seconds, the device showed already “220 attacking missiles”. In the leadership summit was a panic. Then in the air were raised bombers, and Intercontinental ballistic missiles were preparing for launch. Fortunately, on radar phantom “offensive missiles” and has not appeared. The cause of the commotion was a defective computer chip price only 46 cents.
The accident at the telephone exchange was considered by the Soviet invasion
In the midst of the Cold war in the 1950-ies in the United States was built, a network of radar stations that could detect a flying Soviet bombers. In 1961, the link with stations suddenly interrupted. The explanation could be only one: the objects bombed Soviet troops. In fact, everything was much more prosaic: the secret network were served the same relay station, and the city. When an accident occurred, the connection is terminated in all directions.
Training program almost led to the beginning of world war III
November 9, 1979 one of the members of NORAD decided to develop a training program to which virtual was launched Soviet missiles towards America. But the officer did not realize that his computer is connected to the center of the air defense command. The Pentagon immediately sent messages of the impending attack. Everything was ready to click on the “red” button in response, but fortunately that was not there President. Then the commander of NORAD rechecked the information and may have prevented the outbreak of a Third world war.
The neutral message on a rocket in Russia decided not to pay attention
In Russia, too, there were cases of negligence. In 1995, Norway launched a rocket to study the Northern lights. In Russia it is perceived as a direct threat. President Boris Yeltsin had to decide whether to press the “button” to retaliate or not. After a few minutes it is reported that the missile fell into the water. After a time, found out that Norway for 3 weeks warned 30 countries on launch, but in the Russian Federation, this message is ignored.
Source: http://www.kulturologia.ru/blogs/150816/30896/
