The Response Trigger and its Activation
Abstract
The plans we are making today will be executed at a time when the current crop of statesmen no longer will be in action. Hence it is not particularly useful to discuss strategic planning in terms of personalities and evanescent political situations. Geography and technology are more durable foundations for the long-range planning of successful strategy. Proximity to the Communist threat is the salient geographic feature of continental NATO. The geometric configuration of the continental NATO countries which spells an initial inability of concentrating the full force in the main theater is a second salient feature. For example, the ground forces of Germany and France would not be immediately additive to stop a sudden attack. Disregarding the French units in Germany, the full weight of the Soviet attack would fall first on the German forces and subsequently on the French, Belgian, and Dutch forces. "Forward deployments" may mitigate this danger but cannot fully overcome it. Thus, piecemeal destruction of one army after the other is a hazard that is inscribed on the map of Europe.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 1964
- Accession Number
- ADB241222
Entities
People
- Stefan T. Possony
Organizations
- Center for Strategic and International Studies