# Able Archer Headline

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/able-archer-headline/318720>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [August 26, 2005, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/able-archer-headline/318720 "2005-08-26T13:10:35Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Dan\_Kirklin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Dan\_Kirklin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dan_Kirklin)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/able-archer-headline/318720/1 "2005-08-26T13:10:35Z")

</div>

“Was the United States and the Soviet Union on the Brink of Nuclear War?” Well, it’s interesting to learn just how close they was. If they was any closer maybe they’d have become singular and the grammar of that headline would have become correct. So, I didn’t say it was earth-shaking.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/able-archer-headline/318720/2 "2005-08-26T17:13:14Z")

</div>

Hi, **Dan Kirklin** , and welcome to the SDMB!

Since this is a comment concerning **Cecil** ’s latest column ([Operation Able Archer: Was the United States and the Soviet Union on the brink of nuclear war?](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/050826.html)), I’ve moved your thread over to our “Comments on Cecil’s Columns” forum.

Also, we encourage folks to link to the column to which you’re referring. No biggie, though; you’ll know next time.

Again, welcome to the SDMB!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2005, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/able-archer-headline/318720/3 "2005-08-26T17:42:51Z")

</div>

> [@Dan Kirklin](#):
>
> “Was the United States and the Soviet Union on the Brink of Nuclear War?” Well, it’s interesting to learn just how close they was. If they was any closer maybe they’d have become singular and the grammar of that headline would have become correct. So, I didn’t say it was earth-shaking.

A singular gremlin, obviously. (Usually they work in pairs or packs.)

I’ll get it fixed.

your humble TubaDiva