NATO's Theater Nuclear Forces: A Coherent Strategy for the 1980'sWith the passage of time, the role of nuclear weapons in NATO defense strategy has changed significantly. By the 1980s, the doctrine of massive retaliation has evolved into one of flexible response. Now that the Soviet Union has reached parity with the West in strategic forces, NATO's theater nuclear strategy has emerged as a critical issue. Although deterrence remains the goal of NATO defense policy, the current configuration of NATO's triad of conventional, theater nuclear, and strategic nuclear forces may not be adequate to maintain the peace. The author focuses on theater nuclear forces, recommending changes in their configuration to support changes in conventional and strategic forces. In calling for clarification of the conditions which would justify initial use of theater nuclear weapons, he proposes an explicit linking of conventional and theater forces with strategic forces. The adoption of these proposals would allow a restatement of flexible response and enhance deterrence. |
Contents
Chapter | 6 |
The 1970sDetente Deterrence and Warfighting | 13 |
The US Commitment to the Defense of Europe | 22 |
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NATO's Theater Nuclear Forces: A Coherent Strategy for the 1980's Jean D. Reed No preview available - 1983 |
Common terms and phrases
achieve aggression aggressor Alexander Haig Alliance American Army battlefield collateral damage conventional attack conventional defense credible deterrence cruise missiles decision defense of Europe defense of Western deployed deployment destruction deterrence fail echelons enhanced-radiation warheads escalation control European allies fense Field Manual firebreak fires fission warheads fission weapon flexible response flexible response strategy GLCM Haig indirect-fire kilometers limited long-range theater nuclear LRTNF massive retaliation medium-range modernization MRTNF National Defense University NATO's strategy NATO's theater nuclear nuclear guarantee Nuclear Strategy nuclear war nuclear warfare Pershing Pershing II political programs range Republic of Germany risk role of theater Soviet strategic Soviet Union sponse strategic exchange strategic forces strategic level strategic nuclear forces Strategic Review strategy of flexible strike tactical nuclear weapons tegic territory theater nuclear forces theater nuclear weapons threat triad United warfighting Warsaw Pact Warsaw Pact attack Warsaw Pact forces weap weapon systems Western Europe Western European