Civil Defense Perspectives vol. 40 #3
The Cold War concept, reflected in novels and films, involved a trigger of some sort, followed by massive retaliation and counter-retaliation, and the end of civilization. Two strategic triads facing each other, the U.S. and U.S.S.R., resulted in an uneasy standoff. The picture is now much more complex, with about nine nuclear states (U.S., Russia, China, UK, France, North Korea, India, Pakistan, and probably Israel). Iran has reportedly been on the verge of getting the Bomb for years.
How could these arsenals be used advantageously? Perhaps their main purpose is insurance against invasion by a non-nuclear power. Possibly their existence limited recent hostile encounters between India and Pakistan, which both have nuclear weapons.
Wars in Ukraine and the Middle East are forcing a change in strategic thinking—and challenging the assumption that the “world’s only superpower” is invulnerable.
Continue reading “Bold Brinksmanship in Ukraine”