US maritime strategy: a dangerous game

Journal Article · Tue Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1987 · Bull. At. Sci.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/00963402.1987.11459567· OSTI ID:6142387

Posen, B R

In northern Norway, NATO territory and conventional military assets are located near a critical element of Soviet strategic nuclear power - the ballistic-missile submarine force operating largely in the Barents Sea off the Kola Peninsula. In the event of conventional war in Europe, NATO military operations in this area could put at risk this submarine force as well as important Soviet naval and land bases and elements of its early-warning system for detecting strategic nuclear attack. Insofar as it is the interest of the United States to avoid escalation from conventional to nuclear conflict, careful consideration must be given to any suggested military operation that would unnecessarily mix together Soviet and US general-purpose and strategic nuclear forces. Powerful adversaries have never before fought for such high stakes, while at the same time trying to avoid the mutual use of massive, ready military capabilities in their possession. Since there are no proven rules to guide such an endeavor, and since the consequences of a misstep are so great, strategies that propose deliberately intermixing the general-purpose forces acquired to limit war and the strategic nuclear forces that permit virtually unlimited war should be approached with caution. 12 references.

• Research Organization: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge
• OSTI ID: 6142387
• Journal Information: Bull. At. Sci.; (United States), Journal Name: Bull. At. Sci.; (United States); ISSN BASIA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

350200* -- Arms Control-- Proliferation-- (1987-)
98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL PROTECTION
ARMS CONTROL
ASIA
EASTERN EUROPE
EUROPE
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
MILITARY FACILITIES
MILITARY STRATEGY
MISSILES
NATO
NORTH AMERICA
NORWAY
NUCLEAR WEAPONS
PROLIFERATION
SCANDINAVIA
SHIPS
SUBMARINES
USA
USSR
WEAPONS
WESTERN EUROPE