Strategic stability through the Strategic Defense Initiative. Study project

Technical Report · Thu Mar 09 04:00:00 EST 1989

OSTI ID:5674124

Reeves, J T

From the 1950s the U.S. policy on nuclear strategic forces has been that of massive retaliation and mutual assured destruction. Those policies are being reexamined by the leading edge of technology in spite of political direction. The advances in scientific and industrial research have caused a real and critical examination of the strategic stability issues surrounding the U.S. nuclear forces and military strategy. This paper focuses on what the role of the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) research program will play in current and future nuclear-stability issues. It addresses the historical policies that lead to the current rationale for nuclear stability between the two superpowers and where they each stand on their strategic defense programs. The study then looks at what the SDI was envisioned to be and what arms control pacts with the Soviets have done to influence our decisions to pursue this radically different deterrent strategy.

• Research Organization: Army War Coll., Carlisle Barracks, PA (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5674124
• Report Number(s): AD-A-208641/1/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

350100* -- Arms Control-- Policy
Negotiations
& Legislation-- (1987-)
98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION
ARMS CONTROL
BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE
HISTORICAL ASPECTS
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
MILITARY STRATEGY
NATIONAL DEFENSE
NUCLEAR DETERRENCE
POLITICAL ASPECTS
STABILITY
WARFARE