Offensive versus defensive tradeoffs in the European theater
Researchers with the Nuclear History Project are concerned with the development of nuclear force structures. The author is one of the researchers and in this paper discusses offensive versus defensive tradeoffs in the European theater. The paper was presented at a seminar in Los Alamos on July 27, 1987, sponsored by the Center for National Security Studies. The political and military relationships within NATO are seen to be in transition. The author analyzes this transition by reviewing past watersheds: the 1956--1958 discussions about stationing medium-range ballistic missiles in Europe; the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty; the intermediate-range nuclear forces (INF) discussions of 1979--1987; and the president's 1983 Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) speech. The author points out that it will make sense to reconsider the role of particular defense structures in bringing about both a politically acceptable and military credible balance in Europe.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-36
- OSTI ID:
- 6101007
- Report Number(s):
- LA-11553-MS; ON: DE89013729
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products. CNSS papers No. 18
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
EUROPE
MILITARY STRATEGY
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
MISSILES
NATIONAL DEFENSE
NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY
NUCLEAR WEAPONS
TREATIES
WEAPONS
350100* - Arms Control- Policy
Negotiations
& Legislation- (1987-)
350200 - Arms Control- Proliferation- (1987-)
450202 - Explosions & Explosives- Nuclear- Weaponry- (-1989)