AFTER all the anti-Russian hysteria fostered by America and Britain, this is a true story of the 1983 nuclear incident that brought us once more to the brink of World War III.
'The man who saved the world', Lieutenant Colonel Stanislav Petrov on a fateful day in 1983, was at his post as head of the Russian Nuclear Rapid Response Unit.
The warning klaxon sounded, signifying an incoming nuclear missile, launched from the USA.
Petrov's job was to launch the counter attack. He waited. The klaxon was to sound another four times, at ten minute intervals, five missiles in all.
Petrov was under intense pressure. His wife was very ill and everyone kept saying 'you must make a decision'.
He was an intelligent man. The Cold War was all but over and he thought why should they do this? He held his nerve and nothing happened.
It turned out to be a computer/radar malfunction. He was roasted by his bosses but they could not demote him.
Instead they made sure that the Russian people were not told. However, the Americans found out. Later Petrov's wife died and fed up he left the military and took up an invitation to visit America where he was treated like the hero he was.
Among the many dignitaries he met were Matt Damon and Kevin Costner, of whom he was a huge fan.
These two shielded him from the worst of the media. Petrov became friends with Costner especially and stayed with him at his home.
Costner asked him what would have happened if he had launched a counter attack. Petrov replied through his interpreter 'All life, human, animal, vegetable would be destroyed. The world would be a desert'.
Costner was visibly moved and when the interpreter said: 'Your his hero'; Coster replied: 'No tell him he is my hero'.
The media soon switched their attention to America's invasion of tiny Grenada (same year) and Petrov returned to Russia with the female interpreter, with whom he had formed a close bond.
If not for him I would not be around to write this and you would not be around to read it!
As we head to the brink again, courtesy of the 'Donald', a song from the rock band Europe springs to mind: 'It's the final countdown.'
BILL BISHOP,
Ballingry.
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