What does absorbing a nuclear attack mean?

Introduction

My tribe members live on the Fort Berthold Reservation in North Dakota with nuclear missiles. The weapons are located in underground concrete silos surrounded by antennas in small areas confined by fences. The missiles are armed and ready to launch within 60 seconds. This is why they are called Minuteman missiles.

The Role of Nuclear Missiles in US Nuclear Strategy

Leonor Tumero explains that if the United States faces a potential nuclear attack, the president will have two options regarding long-range ballistic missiles: either to launch them preemptively before the potential missiles are destroyed, or to choose to absorb the attack and respond later.

The Impact of a Nuclear Attack on Fort Berthold Reservation

According to Frank von Hippel, there is a possibility of eliminating the local population around the missiles. There would not only be fallout but also the effects of the explosion and its subsequent impacts. Therefore, they would be the most affected by the attack.

Future Challenges and Potential Alternatives

Leonor Tumero indicates that she does not believe the United States should invest in fixed long-range ballistic missiles. They are non-survivable systems. Instead, we should explore new concepts of nuclear deterrence and focus more on “how to introduce stability into nuclear deterrence” by emphasizing resilience and survivability.

Source: https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/what-would-it-mean-to-absorb-a-nuclear-attack/#transcripts-body