U.S. Strategic Nuclear Forces in the Post Strategic Arms Reduction Talk World: Is There a Future for Nuclear Deterrence?

Abstract

Following victory in the Cold War, the Soviet threat that shaped United States' nuclear deterrent strategy for the past 40 years, is gone. That defined, monolithic threat has been replaced by a diverse array of new challenges including proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) among regional powers, rogue states and non-state actors. In the face of this emerging WMD threat, the United States is dismantling its chemical and biological weapons stockpile and remains committed to further reductions in its nuclear arsenal. Can a reduced U.S. nuclear weapons arsenal provide a credible deterrent to the growing threat posed by proliferation of WMD? Finally, in light of the current Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA), is it time to reduce our dependence on nuclear weapons and pursue other deterrent options?

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1998
Accession Number
ADA341484

Entities

People

  • Robert J. Filler

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Counter WMD
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Arms Control
  • Arms Control Treaties
  • Ballistic Missiles
  • Biological Weapons
  • Chemical Warfare Agents
  • Chemical Weapons
  • Defense Systems
  • Department Of Defense
  • Early Warning Systems
  • Fissile Materials
  • National Security
  • Strategic Weapons
  • Treaties
  • War Colleges
  • Warning Systems
  • Weapons Effects
  • Weapons Of Mass Destruction

Fields of Study

  • Political science

Readers

  • Strategic Security Studies