Being a high ranking general must be difficult. One problem you may run into is that you must choose your words very carefully. Otherwise the following might happen…
General: “Nuke it from orbit. It’s the only way to be sure”. Stops paying attention and as a result does not hear the soldier reply.
Soldier: “Very well sir!”
…
Some time goes by. There is an atomic bomb detonation at the target that was being discussed earlier.
…
General, shouting at Soldier: “You asshole. It was just a famous quote from a famous movie. It was not an order.”
…
Hopefully there are many safeguards in place to keep this from happening in all militaries that actually have access to atomic bombs. If not, may god have mercy on us all.
YekNeb 