[Steely Tom]

1. It's been "a few minutes till midnight" for about fifty years, and
2. Normally, the "clock" only responds to actions taken by the United States.

[elcid1970]

Yeah, the B.A.S. usually shoved the minute hand forward only while the hellish Ronald Reagan was hurling us toward nuclear holocaust, even as St. Gorby Stainhead led the freeze movement that would guarantee world peace & rainbows for all.

Sarc necessary?

;^)