On the surface, the nuclear briefcase symbolizes great power and authority. The current US President can use the briefcase to order a nuclear attack at short notice.
The nuclear briefcase is always carried by a military aide in the US President's entourage.
But what exactly is in the nuclear briefcase? And how can we ensure a smooth transfer from Joe Biden to Donald Trump on January 20?
What exactly is a nuclear suitcase?
The nuclear briefcase, officially called the “Presidential Emergency Briefcase,” looks like a thick briefcase, according to AP. The heavy bag is carried by a military aide and is never far from the president, whether the commander-in-chief is in a helicopter or leaving meetings with world leaders.
Contrary to popular belief, the briefcase does not contain a “red button” that can be pressed in the event of a direct nuclear weapons launch. The contents of the briefcase are kept secret, but public information shows that the briefcase contains a communications device, contingency plans, and top-secret documents that allow the president to communicate with the military command center at the Pentagon and related agencies.
To authenticate his identity as the legitimate commander-in-chief of the US military, the president also carries a plastic card containing the necessary codes. This card is also known as a "cookie".
To ensure that the US government has full authority when deciding to launch a nuclear attack in case the president encounters a problem and cannot act, depending on the president, the vice president sometimes also has his own briefcase.
For example, President Jimmy Carter (1977-1981) required that Vice President Walter Mondale also be assigned a military aide to carry the nuclear briefcase.
The nuclear briefcase is a symbol of the power and strength of the US President.
Has the nuclear briefcase ever been used before?
To date, the nuclear briefcase has never been used to trigger a nuclear attack. However, during the Cold War, the risk of nuclear escalation was real.
Absolute precision was required in handling the suitcases. However, human error cannot be ruled out. A story that has been circulated but never officially confirmed concerns an incident that occurred during the Carter presidency.
Accordingly, Mr. Carter once forgot the card containing the identity verification code in his vest pocket, and the shirt was delivered to the laundress before being discovered.
What happens during the nuclear suitcase handover?
On January 20 (Washington DC time), the nuclear briefcase will be handed over according to a standardized procedure. Specifically, the briefcase will be handed over to another military aide standing at or near the place where the next president is sworn in, according to CNN.
At the same time, Mr. Biden's codes will be disabled at the end of his term and Mr. Trump's codes will be activated immediately after he is sworn in. This is to ensure a smooth transition of control of the US nuclear arsenal.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/vali-hat-nhan-se-duoc-chuyen-tu-ong-biden-sang-ong-trump-the-nao-185250120163238037.htm
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