From Triad to Dyad: A Case to Retire ICBMs
Abstract
The end of the Cold War has dramatically changed the international security environment, particularly in regards to the role of nuclear weapons and the relative effectiveness of deterrence against a wide range of potential enemies to the United States. Nuclear deterrence strategies grew out of an ever changing, but consistently bipolar environment during the Cold War. The post-Cold War environment retains the same threats, although somewhat diminished, but has also seen the rise of WMD threats from rogue nations and non-state actors. Theorists have put lots of thought into what future wars may look like and what role deterrence will play. However, they have put less thought into how the nuclear force structure of the United States should change other than to reduce the number of warheads. The United States can reduce the classic nuclear triad, consisting of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), bombers, and sea launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), to just two delivery systems without compromising national security or our ability to deter legacy threats. The United States no longer needs to maintain operational ICBMs in a post-Cold War security environment and getting rid of them may actually enhance national security.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2010
- Accession Number
- AD1019044
Entities
People
- Brian K. Zoellner
Organizations
- Air Command and Staff College