I've heard this story before, but it never ceases to amaze me how just one person can make such a huge difference.

As I understand it, his orders were very specific - if the computer registered a launch, he was to launch in return. In choosing not to do so, he violated his orders - a *very* risky thing for a Soviet soldier of any rank to do.

Even though the story was unknown at the time the movie "War Games" was made, that incident was very much like the start of the film where the guy in the missile bunker won't turn his key (leading, in the film, to the decision to take the people out of the loop so the computer could launch when it detected an attack...) How fortunate are we that L...

I've heard this story before, but it never ceases to amaze me how just one person can make such a huge difference.

As I understand it, his orders were very specific - if the computer registered a launch, he was to launch in return. In choosing not to do so, he violated his orders - a *very* risky thing for a Soviet soldier of any rank to do.

Even though the story was unknown at the time the movie "War Games" was made, that incident was very much like the start of the film where the guy in the missile bunker won't turn his key (leading, in the film, to the decision to take the people out of the loop so the computer could launch when it detected an attack...) How fortunate are we that Lt. Col. Petrov had the courage to trust his instincts.

I saw in the full article that there has been talk of giving him the Nobel Prize. I don't know why they haven't done that yet - if there's anyone who deserves it, it's him!