Nuclear strategy and national security: points of view. [17 papers]
- eds.
Nuclear strategy and national security are discussed in 17 papers, 9 official documents and statements, and a Senate debate report on the neutron warhead. In the post-Vietnam debate over the future role of the United States in world affairs, new political and military strategies have been formulated to deal with new realities. That debate continues today, and its implications are as uncertain as the changing realities it seeks to comprehend. While there is virtually no disagreement that deterrence should be the primary purpose of nuclear arsenals, controversy continues to surround questions regarding their composition and use should deterrence fail. Increasingly, deterrence has been associated with a capability to employ nuclear weapons on the battlefield or in limited strategic exchanges; the traditional dichotomy between deterrence and war-fighting has today become ambiguous for many people. Yet, others would argue that by blurring the distinction between prevention and initiation of nuclear war there is at least some chance that such a war would become more ''thinkable'' than in the past. Contemporary debate on American nuclear strategy and national security policy is taking place between these two schools of thought. This volume is designed to present the major arguments in the debate and issues related to it.
- OSTI ID:
- 5009561
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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