Yet this book, besides being realistic and objectively correct, serves two extremely important purposes. The second purpose is to show that with relatively inexpensive governmental guidance and supplies, an educated American public could, indeed, defend itself. We could survive a nuclear war and remain a nation. This is an all-important goal. Its most practical aspect lies in the fact that the men in the Kremlin are cautious.
Civil defense is at once the most peaceful and the most effective deterrent of nuclear war.
Some may argue that the Russians could evacuate again and again and thus, by forcing us into similar moves, exhaust us. I believe that in reality they would anger us sufficiently so that we would rearm in earnest. That is not what the Russians want to accomplish. Others may say that the Russians could strike without previous evacuation. This could result in heavy losses on their part which, I hope, they will not risk.