Not that I disagree with your conclusion, but there was a significant selection pressure in the process of qualifying to get into the chair in front of the button. Political leaders don’t like to give power to subordinates who are not likely to implement leadership’s desires.
Having gone through the process and its accompanying ideological training makes Petrov’s refusal to risk nuclear armageddon even more impressive. Even though moral courage was [ETA: not] a criteria in selecting him, Petrov showed more that anyone could reasonably expect.
Not that I disagree with your conclusion, but there was a significant selection pressure in the process of qualifying to get into the chair in front of the button. Political leaders don’t like to give power to subordinates who are not likely to implement leadership’s desires.
Having gone through the process and its accompanying ideological training makes Petrov’s refusal to risk nuclear armageddon even more impressive. Even though moral courage was [ETA: not] a criteria in selecting him, Petrov showed more that anyone could reasonably expect.