10nfl1-Nukes-Cover
Chemical/biological weapons
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| Chemical/biological weapons NUCLEAR WEAPONS CAN ALSO SERVE TO DETER HOSTILE STATES FROM USING CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS Robert G. Joseph and John F. Reichart. The Case for Nuclear Deterrence Today Orbis, 00304387, Winter 1998, Vol. 42, Issue 1. The primary purpose of nuclear weapons is and will remain the deterrence of the use of nuclear weapons by others. But this is not, nor has it ever been, the only rationale for these weapons. As noted, nuclear weapons were a key in NATO's planning to deter a Soviet conventional attack on Western Europe. Today, nuclear forces also contribute to the deterrence of states that possess the full spectrum of weapons of mass destruction, including biological and chemical weapons, such as Iraq in the Gulf War. Use of nuclear weapons against such states is not inconceivable, given sufficient provocation and threat. Conventional weapons may not be able to induce the shock and potential decisiveness of a nuclear weapon. A plausible hypothetical makes the point Given clear intelligence that an adversary was making immediate preparations to launch biological agents against US. forces or population centers from a remote, deeply buried site, would not the president be prudent to explore a nuclear option, inasmuch as immediate, complete, and certain destruction of the target would be beyond the ability of even the most advanced conventional weapons Download 1.23 Mb. Share with your friends:
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