Slow fuze on the neutron bomb
The U.S. government has wrestled with the neutron bomb's production and its potential bargaining powers for years. President Carter's decision not to decide about the neutron bomb has now provoked a furor. The alarm focuses more on the politics of the decision than on its moral, military, and strategic aspects. The political reaction to Carter's deferring production may virtually compel him to produce neutron warheads eventually, unless the Soviet Union displays compensating restraint in the coming months. While the Kremlin has indicated a willingness to forgo production of similar weapons of its own, it is unlikely to accept American demands for other concessions, such as a limit on Soviet SS-20 missile deployments. Since the issue has not been settled, but merely postponed, further thought should be given to the potential costs and benefits of an eventual deployment. Following a lengthy discussion of all aspects of the issue, the answers for the use of the neutron bomb and as to whether it will make Europe and America more secure remain unanswered. (MCW)
- Research Organization:
- Council on Foreign Relations, Washington, DC
- OSTI ID:
- 6711956
- Journal Information:
- Foreign Policy; (United States), Vol. 31
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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