New Conventional Weapons, Reducing Reliance on a Nuclear Response Toward Aggressors
Abstract
We are in a new era of warfare, one in which our warfighting and strategy paradigms must change due to unconventional threats our nation faces and is further complicated by evolving technology, emerging states, rogue nations, and terrorist groups. With the fall of the Soviet Union, our old nemesis has been beaten, but many of the impulsive entities it formerly sponsored and controlled are now unbridled to act on their own. We face terrorism abroad daily and it now reaches us within our own borders. This paper explores military options to acts of aggression against our citizens, forces and allies that our tactical nuclear weapons stockpile previously held in check during the Cold War. I do not advocate totally removing the tactical or limited nuclear options or doing away with our strategic nuclear shield, only that we have the means to reduce the tactical nuclear stockpile size given new conventional weaponry technology and its ability to pick up some of the missions/targets previously assigned to nuclear weapons. To develop my premise, I will first review the historical account of our nation's nuclear policy, explore emerging threats the United States and our allies face, examine new conventional weapons, and finally, provide a range of military options to acts or threats of terrorism or warfare against the United States or our allies.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADA407719
Entities
People
- Gary W. Lane
Organizations
- Air University