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A Cato Institute view on Nuclear Overkill

Ending Nuclear Overkill Cato Institute By CHRISTOPHER A. PREBLE 13 Nov 13 Benjamin Friedman and I have an op-ed in today’s International New York Times  (and theNew York Times iPad app, I just checked) which calls for shrinking the U.S. nuclear arsenal, and moving from a triad of delivery systems—bombers, land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), and submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs)—to a submarine-only monad.

The main focus of the piece is on the strategy that led to the enormous growth of the arsenal in the 1950s and 60s, and the attendant history of the triad. We go into the history to show that the strategy driving our nuclear force posture is outdated and based on inaccurate assumptions. The rationale for the triad is equally dubious given the vast technological gains since ICBMs and SLBMs were first developed and deployed.

But the international system has obviously changed since the days of the Cold War. Potential targets for American nuclear weapons are growing scarcer…….http://www.cato.org/blog/ending-nuclear-overkill

November 15, 2013 - Posted by | general

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