Strategy for terminating a nuclear war

Book · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1985

OSTI ID:5420279

Abt, C C

Avoiding a nuclear war, or ending one if avoidance fails, is an important but relatively unexplored aspect of nuclear doctrine. Dr. Abt examines the feasibility of antagonists agreeing to exclude their open cities from nuclear targeting and to replace strategic bombardment with retaliatory invasion to create less of a hair-trigger deterrent. Critical net assessments by US strategists and the effects of such a strategy on the Soviet Union and the US allies are considered, along with problems implementation might pose. The author contends that both deterrence and the potential for limiting damage are strengthened by prewar plans for a nuclear ceasefire and stalemate short of holocaust.

• OSTI ID: 5420279
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290600 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Nuclear Energy
45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
450202* -- Explosions & Explosives-- Nuclear-- Weaponry-- (-1989)
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
990100 -- Management
AGREEMENTS
ARMS CONTROL
ASIA
EASTERN EUROPE
EUROPE
NORTH AMERICA
NUCLEAR WEAPONS
RECOMMENDATIONS
USA
USSR
WARFARE
WEAPONS