Thinking the unthinkable -- facing a nuclear, biological, chemical and the means to deliver (NBCM) adversary: An integrated planning consideration for the operational commander. Final report
In today`s volatile political, economic, religious and cultural environment Nation-States aggressively pursue robust NBCM capabilities as economic and force equalizers for asymmetric warfare advantage. Two thoughts follow. First, the odds indicate the United States will face a NBCM capable and confident adversary in a future regional conflict. Second, although never publicly nor explicitly stated, the United States has indicated it may respond with nuclear weapons when confronted with NBCM in a conventional war. However accurate, this exchange invites a compelling question: are we prepared to confidently integrate such Presidential tasks into a conventional environment. This paper seeks to provide some considerations to this question. It is not about telling the Operational Commander (CINC) how to execute Presidential tasks; it is about pulling together diverse, unclassified, operational considerations as a reasonable foundation for integrating a nuclear response into conventional operations.
- Research Organization:
- Naval War Coll., Newport, RI (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 405958
- Report Number(s):
- AD-A--311946/8/XAB
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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