Escalation and the Nuclear OptionA critical discussion of the prevalent consesus that general war can scarcely occur except through escalation from introducing nuclear weapons into lesser conflicts. The Memorandum proposes a systematic examination of this argument by considering special crisis situations in which hostilities might break out, determining at each critical point the real constraints on each side and the various possible options. (Author). |
Contents
Escalatory Fears and the Effectiveness of Local Resistance | 25 |
The Analytical Problem | 37 |
The Relevant Image of the Opponent | 43 |
Copyright | |
10 other sections not shown
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
Acheson adversary aggression aggressor allies American argument assumption avoid basic behavior Berlin Berlin blockade bombs buildup certainly Chinese Communist concerning consider considerable conventional forces crisis of October Cuba Cuban crisis Cuban missile crisis deal Dean Acheson decision defense degree deliberate deterrence doubt enemy escalation escalatory especially Europeans event example fact fear feel fighting firebreak firebreak idea forces in Europe French Germany havior Hitler hostilities important initial intentions intractable Jean Edward Smith Kennedy Khrushchev kind Korean Korean War least less limited major massive massive attack McNamara means missiles NATO non-nuclear nuclear war obviously opponent ourselves outbreak peace perhaps persons political possible President Princeton probably question ready reason relevant response risks Russians seems side simply situation Soviet leaders Soviet Union stalemate status quo strategic superiority sure tactical nuclear weapons tend threat tion United West Berlin World War II