--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Seventeen years after the Cold War, how…" description: "\"Seventeen years after the Cold War, how can it be in the Unites States' national security interest for the President of Russia to have only a few minut..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d3/sam-nunn-30492_cold_seventeen-years-after-the-cold-war-how-c_1467991.jpg" --- # Seventeen years after the Cold War, how can it be in the… ![“Seventeen years after the Cold War, how can it be in the Unites States' national security interest for the President of Russia to have only a few minutes to decide whether to fire his nuclear weapons or lose them in response to what could be a false warning?” quote by Sam Nunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d3/sam-nunn-30492_cold_seventeen-years-after-the-cold-war-how-c_1467991.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d3/sam-nunn-30492_cold_seventeen-years-after-the-cold-war-how-c_1467991.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d3/sam-nunn-30492_cold_seventeen-years-after-the-cold-war-how-c_1467991.jpg) > “Seventeen years after the Cold War, how can it be in the Unites States' national security interest for the President of Russia to have only a few minutes to decide whether to fire his nuclear weapons or lose them in response to what could be a false warning?” [Sam Nunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-nunn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote highlights the risk of a short decision window for nuclear launch, questioning its security logic. **In simple terms:** Short nuclear decision time is risky. Key Takeaway Advocate for longer, verified decision processes. Themes nuclear security decision making strategic stability Mood serious urgent Type policy strategic When to use this quote - military protocols - international diplomacy - crisis management - policy reform Key Concepts deterrence theory command and control false alarms Questions to Reflect On - How can verification be improved? - What safeguards are essential? A Different Perspective Technical safeguards can reduce false alarms, but human error remains. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cold/) [Cold war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cold-war/) [Cybersecurity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cybersecurity/) [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [National security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/national-security/) [Nuclear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear/) [Nuclear bomb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear-bomb/) [Nuclear weapons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nuclear-weapons/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [Russia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/russia/) [Security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/security/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Warning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/warning/) [Weapons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapons/) ## Related quotes > [Nuclear abolition is the democratic wish of the world's people, and has been our goal almost since the dawn of the atomic age. 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Nuclear bombs threaten humankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-lown/nuclear-bombs-have-made-mass-murder-a-reality-nuclear-bombs-threaten/) [Bernard Lown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-lown/) > [ The issue has two dimensions. One is the legal dimension and the other one is the issue at the realpolitik. \[In the\] legal realm,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akbar-ganji/the-issue-has-two-dimensions-one-is-the-legal-dimension-and-the-other/) [Akbar Ganji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akbar-ganji/) > [“Whoever is planning a nuclear war or seriously thinking about using nuclear weapons must directly be taken to a mental hospital! 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They need an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/the-constitution-has-broken-down-we-have-no-enemies-except-the-ones/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [There's people out there with nuclear bombs and yet we've got all these politicians trying to make a political platform based on a record.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ice-t/there-s-people-out-there-with-nuclear-bombs-and-yet-we-ve-got-all/) [Ice T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ice-t/) > [We knew the world would not be the same. A few people laughed, a few people cried. Most people were silent. I remembered the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-robert-oppenheimer/we-knew-the-world-would-not-be-the-same-a-few-people-laughed-a-few/) [J. Robert Oppenheimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-robert-oppenheimer/) > [“Jeff sighed. “Henry. You know as well as I do that any one of us could do a great deal of damage if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seanan-mcguire/jeff-sighed-henry-you-know-as-well-as-i-do-that-any-one-of-us-could/) [Seanan McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seanan-mcguire/) > [“In years to come, people may say that the most powerful weapon in this period of the twenty-first century was not sarin gas or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-fletcher/in-years-to-come-people-may-say-that-the-most-powerful-weapon-in-this/) [Tom Fletcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-fletcher/) > [“The second tunnel’s a Ministry of Defence tunnel...dug for a nuclear bomb shelter. 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I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) ## More by Sam Nunn > [The Iranians know that if they develop nuclear weapons, they will be in tremendous jeopardy from military capabilities of their neighbors and of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-nunn/the-iranians-know-that-if-they-develop-nuclear-weapons-they-will-be/) [Sam Nunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-nunn/) > [It's very hard for Europe, the US and Russia to have much influence on the growing problems elsewhere in the world unless we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-nunn/it-s-very-hard-for-europe-the-us-and-russia-to-have-much-influence-on/) [Sam Nunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-nunn/) > [The steady progress made by North Korea on its nuclear and missile programs is deeply concerning. 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But I do believe that, step…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-nunn/i-don-t-think-that-within-a-certain-amount-of-time-we-can-get-rid-of/) [Sam Nunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-nunn/) > [We need a dialogue with the Iranians, and it is going to take both carrots and sticks. We employed very tough economic sanctions, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-nunn/we-need-a-dialogue-with-the-iranians-and-it-is-going-to-take-both/) [Sam Nunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-nunn/) > [We are in a race between cooperation and catastrophe, and the threat is outrunning our response.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-nunn/we-are-in-a-race-between-cooperation-and-catastrophe-and-the-threat/) [Sam Nunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-nunn/) > [I think if terrorists had nuclear materials and found people to put a bomb together - both of which are possible - we would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-nunn/i-think-if-terrorists-had-nuclear-materials-and-found-people-to-put-a/) [Sam Nunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-nunn/) > [I think that our American people will welcome a Russian military force for peace-keeping purposes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-nunn/i-think-that-our-american-people-will-welcome-a-russian-military/) [Sam Nunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-nunn/) > [There is a pervasive mistrust that grew out of the Cold War and still continues today - even though there are a lot more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-nunn/there-is-a-pervasive-mistrust-that-grew-out-of-the-cold-war-and-still/) [Sam Nunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-nunn/) > [You have to pay the price. You will find that everything in life exacts a price, and you will have to decide whether the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-nunn/you-have-to-pay-the-price-you-will-find-that-everything-in-life/) [Sam Nunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-nunn/) > [The war between the Iranians and Iraqis is a touchy issue. To be quite honest, they each other's guts. It was not responsible to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-nunn/the-war-between-the-iranians-and-iraqis-is-a-touchy-issue-to-be-quite/) [Sam Nunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-nunn/) > [Senator Biden was correct by calling for more to look into Governor Cuomo's defense policy. It is clear to me, by researching the governor's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-nunn/senator-biden-was-correct-by-calling-for-more-to-look-into-governor/) [Sam Nunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-nunn/) > [Some people think we will see a nuclear explosion in Europe or the United States within the next 10 years. Will it happen? Sure,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-nunn/some-people-think-we-will-see-a-nuclear-explosion-in-europe-or-the/) [Sam Nunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-nunn/) [Explore all 17 Sam Nunn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-nunn/) ## More Cold quotes > [Once ye made up yer mind to do somethin', 'tis better t'stumble o'er the small hillock of jump-ahead than t'bash yer head on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/once-ye-made-up-yer-mind-to-do-somethin-tis-better-t-stumble-o-er-the/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [When you're scared - and I mean really scared, not just hearing a noise in the night, or standing toe to toe with someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-gordon-smith/when-you-re-scared-and-i-mean-really-scared-not-just-hearing-a-noise/) [Alexander Gordon Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-gordon-smith/) > [From the bitter cold winter at Valley Forge, to the mountains of Afghanistan and the deserts of Iraq, our soldiers have courageously answered when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/solomon-ortiz/from-the-bitter-cold-winter-at-valley-forge-to-the-mountains-of/) [Solomon Ortiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/solomon-ortiz/) > [When I get a chance to play golf or go on a boat with good people, take the boat out and put some lobsters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/when-i-get-a-chance-to-play-golf-or-go-on-a-boat-with-good-people/) [Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) > [Of course Messi could handle a cold Tuesday night in Stoke. He'd be drinking tea and relaxing beforehand. Me? I'd probably be the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neymar/of-course-messi-could-handle-a-cold-tuesday-night-in-stoke-he-d-be/) [Neymar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neymar/) > [This cold weather has set all the young Folks to providing Bedfellows. I have signed two or three Licences every Day \[as a Fairfax…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mason/this-cold-weather-has-set-all-the-young-folks-to-providing-bedfellows/) [George Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mason/) > [When my main character in 'Heat' climbs the tower, the highest diving platform, hoping to resume competitive diving after an injury, I am there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cadnum/when-my-main-character-in-heat-climbs-the-tower-the-highest-diving/) [Michael Cadnum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cadnum/) > [You start playing when it's cold and you want to be playing when it's cold again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimy-williams/you-start-playing-when-it-s-cold-and-you-want-to-be-playing-when-it-s/) Jimy Williams > [It would be a piece of ingenuousness to accuse the man of today of his lack of moral code. 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We must heal the sick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henrik-ibsen/what-s-to-become-of-the-morally-sound-left-out-in-the-cold-i-suppose/) [Henrik Ibsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henrik-ibsen/) > [When I first started, all the reviews of Cold Chisel would say, 'This singer won't have a voice in six months.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-barnes/when-i-first-started-all-the-reviews-of-cold-chisel-would-say-this/) [Jimmy Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-barnes/) > [One of the problems trying to play an instrument outside in the cold is your fingers give up on you and you can't wear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-macdonald/one-of-the-problems-trying-to-play-an-instrument-outside-in-the-cold/) [Amy Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-macdonald/) > [God tempers the cold to the shorn sheep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-etienne-sainte-claire-deville/god-tempers-the-cold-to-the-shorn-sheep/) Henri Etienne Sainte-Claire Deville > [Those nights lying alone are not discontinuous with this cold hectic dawn. It is who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-carson/those-nights-lying-alone-are-not-discontinuous-with-this-cold-hectic/) [Anne Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-carson/) [Browse all 5,381 Cold quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cold/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Seventeen years after the Cold War, how can it be in the Unites States' national security interest for the President of Russia to have only a few minutes to decide whether to fire his nuclear weapons or lose them in response to what could be a false warning?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sam Nunn" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-nunn/seventeen-years-after-the-cold-war-how-can-it-be-in-the-unites-states/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cold" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-nunn/seventeen-years-after-the-cold-war-how-can-it-be-in-the-unites-states/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d3/sam-nunn-30492_cold_seventeen-years-after-the-cold-war-how-c_1467991.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d3/sam-nunn-30492_cold_seventeen-years-after-the-cold-war-how-c_1467991.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d3/sam-nunn-30492_cold_seventeen-years-after-the-cold-war-how-c_1467991.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Seventeen years after the Cold War, how can it be in the Unites States' national security interest for the…” — Sam Nunn", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Sam Nunn", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-nunn/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Seventeen years after the Cold War,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-nunn/seventeen-years-after-the-cold-war-how-can-it-be-in-the-unites-states/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-nunn/seventeen-years-after-the-cold-war-how-can-it-be-in-the-unites-states/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```