COMMAND AND CONTROL FOR SELECTIVE RESPONSE
Abstract
During the past several years, there has been a growing awareness that an effective strategic capability requires more than survivable forces, some warning and defensive capability, and a plan and resolve to employ these resources. It also depends upon a command capability whereby national political or military leaders can operate or control the resources according to the plan. This recognition has caused new emphasis to be placed on the problem of command and control. This chapter considers command and control in the conduct of two different strategies of central nuclear war: first, a spasm war that unleashes an unlimited nuclear strike as quickly and thoroughly as possible; second, a strategy of selected response that allows deliberate commitment of small, moderate, or very large portions of the strategic offensive capacity of the United States in accordance with both military and political considerations. The command and control required for conduct of limited strategic war is then considered in relation to these two alternatives.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 13, 1963
- Accession Number
- AD0406949
Entities
People
- Herbert D. Benington
Organizations
- System Development Corporation