Nuclear Threats From Small States.

Abstract

What are the policy implications regarding proliferation and counterproliferation of nuclear weapons among Third World states? How does deterrence operate outside the parameters of superpower confrontation as defined by the cold war 5 elaborate system of constraints enforced by concepts like mutual assured destruction, and counter-value and counter-force targeting? How can U.S. policymakers devise contingencies for dealing with nuclear threats posed by countries like North Korea, Libya, Iraq, Iran, and Syria? These are some of the unsettling but nevertheless important questions addressed by the author in this monograph. In his analysis, Mr. Jerome Kahan examines the likelihood that one or more of these countries will use nuclear weapons before the year 2000. He also offers a framework that policymakers and planners might use in assessing U.S. interests in preempting the use of nuclear weapons or in retaliating for their use. Ironically, with the end of the cold war, it is imperative that defense strategists, policymakers, and military professionals think about the "unthinkable". In the interest of fostering debate on this important subject, the Strategic Studies Institute commends this insightful monograph to your attention.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 13, 1994
Accession Number
ADA358334

Entities

People

  • Jerome H. Kahan

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Counter WMD
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aircrafts
  • Arms Control
  • Ballistic Missiles
  • Cold War
  • Department Of Defense
  • Foreign Relations
  • Geography
  • Governments
  • International Organizations
  • National Security
  • North Korea
  • Nuclear Energy Levels
  • Nuclear Weapons
  • Security
  • United States
  • Ussr
  • War Colleges

Fields of Study

  • Political science

Readers

  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.
  • Strategic Security Studies