Nuclear Weapons and U.S. National Security: A Need for Weapons Programs?

Abstract

In the 2001 Nuclear Posture Review (NPR), the Bush Administration outlined a new role for U.S. nuclear weapons that goes beyond the concept of deterrence from the Cold War. It also identified a new targeting strategy that would seek to threaten specific capabilities in adversary nations. Furthermore, the Administration has pledged to restore and enhance the U.S. nuclear weapons infrastructure, as part of the U.S. effort to deter the emergence of new threats in the future. In implementing the NPR, the Administration has requested funding for studies on new types of nuclear weapons. The Administration claims these projects, if they eventually produce new weapons, would enhance deterrence; critics claim they will make nuclear use more likely and undermine U.S. nonproliferation goals. This report will be updated as needed.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 15, 2003
Accession Number
ADA454708

Entities

People

  • Amy F. Woolf

Organizations

  • Library of Congress

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Biological Weapons
  • Chemical Weapons
  • Cold War
  • Congress
  • Department Of Defense
  • Deterrence
  • Emerging Threats
  • International Security
  • Law
  • National Security
  • Nuclear Warheads
  • Nuclear Weapons
  • Security
  • United States
  • Ussr
  • Weapons
  • Weapons Of Mass Destruction

Fields of Study

  • Political science

Readers

  • Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.
  • Nuclear Non-Proliferation and International Security
  • Political Violence and Terrorism Studies.