Nuclear Weapons and US FP Flashcards
how are nuclear weapons different from other types of weapons
they have a far greater magnitude of destruction. different from past innovations that were originally brought into regular use after being thought to be too horrible but just destroying cities doesnt make them different
What is the definition of deterrence?
the concept that you can deter an attack by threat of retaliation.
What is Mutually Assured Destruction
if both sided have second strike capabilities then nuclear war doesnt make sense. converntional wars also detered because they could escalate to nuclear war
What are 3 main issues when establishing crediblity
do you have the resolve to execute these threats, do you have the capability to execute them, will you surrender your own cities in retaliation on behalf of an ally?
How do you demonstrate that you are credible in your capabilities?
have lots of nukes, submarines, ICBMs
how do you demonstrate your resolve to build a credible threat?
make public statements in a democracy that would be politically costly to reverse(tie your own hand like Kennedy did with Cuba)
leave something to chance like deployin gplanes with nukes to fly along the border
How do you demonstrate that you will use nukes to protect an ally at your own expense?
put trip wire troops along the border of an ally and make yourself a vested interest in any invasion. give nukes to your ally like Ike thought about doing
What’s the potential probelem with missle defense
can eliminate second strike capabilities and MAD. might tempt enemy to make preemptive strike before the defenses are ready, can prompt military build up that would overwhelm missle defenses
What are the two views about how nuclear proliferation will affect stability
horizontal proliferation is met with proliferation optimists and proliferation optimists
what is the view of a nuclear proliferation optimist?
the bomb creates caution, second stike capabilities are easy to achieve, states hav strong incentives to retain control of nukes,
What is the view of a nuclear pessimist
recent proliferators have fewer nukes and may not have second strike capabilities, militarys may not be headed by civilians and may sacrifice safety for readiness. period of vulnerabiltiy during the stages of development of a bomb
Why does the USA not want lots of countries to get a nuke?
nuclear weapons are the great equalizer, takes invasion off the table, takes coercion and threat of overthrow off the table
Describe the ethics of nuclear deterrence
2 sides: some say morality prohibits deterrence because it is effectively holding millions hostage, and no goal is worhty enough to justify that amt of death. The other side says that it is a moral imperative becuase it is a bloodless strategy, Utilitarian viewpoint. Just war theory says it violates the principles of proportionality and discrimination
What is the difference between deterrence an ddefense?
deterrence is just threats and defence is action
Go back and reread notes in spiral and in packet about mandelbaum reading
do it
