United States Strategic Command: Facing the Future.

Abstract

Many changes in the international environment and on the domestic scene have complicated planning for U.S. nuclear forces. This paper identifies and assesses problems U.S. Strategic Command will face during the next decade. Problems include the large quantity of nuclear warheads in Russia, and Russia's still potent nuclear forces. Control of proliferation of WMD has been complicated. Fundamental changes have occurred to U.S. forces. CINCSTRAT must coordinate with regional CINCs to more efficiently perform his mission. STRATCOM nuclear support to regional CINCs and incorporation of CINC precision weapons into the nuclear operations plan should be addressed. As strategic forces get smaller, CINCSTRAT must review nuclear strategy and composition of strategic forces. The end of the Cold War has complicated the command's mission. To provide deterrence against major attack and employ forces if deterrence fails in the future, STRATCOM must take the lead and work with national policymakers and regional CINCs for solutions to the challenges of a more complex world.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 14, 1996
Accession Number
ADA312074

Entities

People

  • Bruce M. Nelson

Organizations

  • Naval War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Counter WMD

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Arms Control
  • Biological Weapons
  • Chemical Weapons
  • Cold War
  • Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles
  • Military Budgets
  • Military Operations
  • Nuclear Bombs
  • Nuclear Materials
  • Nuclear Warheads
  • Nuclear Weapons
  • Precision-Guided Munitions
  • Strategic Weapons
  • United States
  • United States Strategic Command
  • Weapons Of Mass Destruction

Readers

  • Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.
  • Nuclear Non-Proliferation and International Security