Utility of tactical nuclear weapons following 1990 Conventional Forces Europe reduction agreement. Final report
Not so long ago, the world was changing rapidly, the Cold War faded. At least one arms agreement, the Intermediate Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, which reduced the U.S. Pershing II and the Russian SS-21's missiles in the European theater, was in place. Then the euphoria evaporated. The Kremlin hardliners regained power and balked at signing a Conventional Forces Europe (CFE) agreement - a treaty which only a year ago would have reduced to approximate parity the size of United States and Soviet Forces in Europe. Was America ready for this new Soviet challenge. Thankfully the answer is still yes. The United States continues to maintain its Nuclear Triad -- land, sea and air deliverable nuclear weapons system's. On the European battlefield the U.S. maintains the ability to deliver tactical nuclear weapons to overcome the Russian Army's numerical advantage and remain responsive to the ground commander. All of this should give Kremlin hardliners (strict communist power brokers, primarily in the military and KGB) reason to pause. Given the reemergence of hostile Soviet leaders, this paper addresses the future need for land based Theater Army delivered tactical nuclear weapons in the European Theater and within Regional Theaters. It also, analyzes regional powers, indicating how they might influence nuclear strategy in a world where the Soviet Union may well be moving away from us again.
- Research Organization:
- Army War Coll., Carlisle Barracks, PA (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 5242343
- Report Number(s):
- AD-A-237688/7/XAB
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
NUCLEAR WEAPONS
MILITARY STRATEGY
USA
AGREEMENTS
ARMS CONTROL
EUROPE
PARITY
PLANNING
REDUCTION
TREATIES
USSR
WARFARE
ASIA
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
NORTH AMERICA
PARTICLE PROPERTIES
WEAPONS
350000* - Arms Control- (1987-)
350100 - Arms Control- Policy
Negotiations
& Legislation- (1987-)
450400 - Military Technology
Weaponry
& National Defense- Nuclear & Radiological Warfare- (1990-)