U.S. Nuclear Weapons Policy Confronting Today's Threats

by Bunn, George; Chyba, Christopher F.; Perry, William J.

• ISBN13: 9780815713654
• ISBN10: 0815713657
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-08-30
• Publisher: Brookings Institution Press

Summary

What role should nuclear weapons play in today's world? How can the United States promote international security while safeguarding its own interests? U.S. Nuclear Weapons Policy informs this debate with an analysis of current nuclear weapons policies and strategies, including those for deterring, preventing, or preempting nuclear attack; preventing further proliferation, to nations and terrorists; modifying weapons designs; and revising the U.S. nuclear posture.Presidents Bush and Clinton made major changes in U.S. policy after the Cold War, and George W. Bush's administration made further, more radical changes after 9/11. Leaked portions of 2001's Nuclear Posture Review, for example, described more aggressive possible uses for nuclear weapons. This important volume examines the significance of such changes and suggests a way forward for U.S. policy, emphasizing stronger security of nuclear weapons and materials, international compliance with nonproliferation obligations, attention to the demand side of proliferation, and reduced reliance on nuclear weapons in U.S. foreign policy.

Table of Contents

Foreword	vii
William J. Perry
Preface	ix
1 A World of Risk: The Current Environment for U.S. Nuclear Weapons Policy	1	(33)
Christopher F. Chyba and Karthika Sasikumar
2 Deterrence, Preventive War, and Preemption	34	(41)
David Holloway
3 The Nuclear Nonproliferation Regime and Its History	75	(51)
George Bunn
4 New Challenges to the Nonproliferation Regime	126	(35)
Christopher F. Chyba, Chaim Braun, and George Bunn
5 Strategies for Tackling Proliferation Challenges	161	(59)
Christopher F. Chyba, Chaim Braun, and George Bunn
6 Defenses against Nuclear Attack on the United States	220	(28)
W.K.H. Panofsky and Dean A. Wilkening
7 Assessing the United States' Nuclear Posture	248	(49)
Roger Speed and Michael May
8 U.S. Nuclear Weapons Policies for a New Era	297	(28)
George Bunn and Christopher F. Chyba
About the Authors	325	(4)
Index	329