That is indeed a very interesting theory:
Q3734:
>Also, think 'White Squal' re: Cuban M Crisis/JFK.
MOLINK, the hotline between the US and Russia regarding nuclear matters, was established after the Cuba missile crisis, and is still running today:
https://www.army.mil/article/109986/hotline_now_50_years_old_continues_to_promote_dialog_with_russians
It is however probably now operated under a new form, called DCL. See document below, pp. 23-29:
https://www.nsa.gov/Portals/70/documents/news-features/declassified-documents/cryptologs/cryptolog_85.pdf
Also, Q clearance was established in the 1954 Atomic Energy Act.
But then, in Q48:
>Does stating 'Q' refer that person works in DOE?
>No.
Indeed, DoD personnel can have access to 'Q clearance level' material:
https://www.acq.osd.mil/ncbdp/nm/NMHB/chapters/Appendix_G.htm
Relevant excerpts:
>Q Access Authorization is given to an individual whose duties require access to Secret/Top Secret RD, Top Secret FRD, Top Secret NSI, or any category or level of classified matter designated as COMSEC, CRYPTO, or SCI.
>Equating the Two Classification Systems:
>While it is not possible to directly correlate the two security clearance systems used by the DoD and the DOE/NNSA, Figure G.1 shows the clearances and highest level of access for the two Departments.
>An individual may have a C, S, TS, or TS/SCI clearance in the DoD; an individual may have L, Q, or Q with TS authority in the DOE/NNSA.
>Each of these clearance levels also has an interim status, which allows the cleared person to view but not create or control documents at that level.
>Once the individual is given a final clearance, he or she is able to control documents for that level of classification.
>Need-to-know is granted by the agency controlling the information and helps govern access to information.
>Security administrators verify an individual’s eligibility for a certain clearance level, and then grant need-to-know caveats as needed.
So, if you have a final TS clearance in the DoD, and the proper need to know, you can access the TS-RD data as if you had a Q clearance in the DOE.
I attached the figure G.1 mentionned.
I have not been able to find any information regarding the clearance level needed to use the MOLINK, but given it is nuclear related, and the connections between all the above:
The Q team has the necessary clearance level to use MOLINK (or equivalent) to establish a backchannel with Russia?