Assured Destruction of What. A countercombatant Alternative to Nuclear Madness
Abstract
The paper challenges the idea that the assured destruction capability of American nuclear deterrence must focus on enemy population centers. As an alternative it urges a countercombatant targeting capability and intention, directed to depriving an enemy of the ability to maintain internal security and security against hostile neighboring states, even though the latter might initially have been much weaker than itself. The specific targets would thus be internal security forces, military transportation and supply facilities, and tactical military forces and weapons centers. It is argued that such a retaliatory strategy would: (1) Offer prospects that any nuclear war occurring would be significantly less destructive than would one fought under counter- population strategy; (2) not make nuclear war more probable than under the current strategy; (3) be consistent with arms race stability; that is, it would not imply significant additional armament expenditures. Questions of probable Soviet reaction to adoption of such a strategy, and of domestic political support for it in the United States, are also considered.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 31, 1973
- Accession Number
- AD0769835
Entities
People
- Bruce M. Russett
Organizations
- Yale University