196. Memorandum From Stuart Eizenstat and Steve Simmons of the Domestic Policy Council to the President’s Assistant for National Security Affairs (Brzezinski) and the Director of the Office of Science and Technology (Press)1
SUBJECT
- Study of Accidental War Potential
It was recently reported that for the third time in seven months a computer malfunction signaled erroneously that the Soviet Union was launching a nuclear attack.2 Although the computer mistakes were [Page 841] quickly corrected, it seems to us that such accidental errors are cause for concern. We believe that this latest malfunction provides an opportunity to conduct a quiet but thorough appraisal of the potential for nuclear war being started as a result of technological or human error, our command and control capacity to prevent this from happening, and recommendations which would help ensure that such accidental nuclear warfare never occurs.
This is obviously a national security issue, and thus falls in your area. However, we thought it an important matter to raise with you. Unless you disagree, we would appreciate the opportunity to meet and discuss whether such a study might have merit.
- Source: Carter Library, National Security Affairs, Brzezinski Material, Subject File, Box 42, Missile Warning Incidents: 11/79–8/80. No classification marking.↩
- See Documents 190, 191, and 193.↩