The nuclear turning point
Subtitle: a blueprint for deep cuts and de-alerting of nuclear weapons
By: Harold A. Feiveson, editor ; Bruce G. Blair ... [et al.].
Contributors: Feiveson, Harold A.; Blair, Bruce G., 1947-
Publisher: Brookings Institution
Published: 1999
Place of publication: Washington, D.C
Language: eng
Number of pages: 402
Subjects: Nuclear arms control.; Nuclear weapons.; Security, International.; Nuclear disarmament.; Nuclear weapons -- United States.
Description: "Despite a steep drawdown in U.S. and Russian nuclear forces in the years after 1991, both the United States and Russia continue to maintain large arsenals of strategic nuclear weapons poised for immediate launch. Under the most optimistic projections, these arsenals will remain large and launch-ready for decades. This book critically evaluates this posture and its underlying rationale.

It reviews U.S. nuclear strategy and assesses the risks of inadvertent and deliberate nuclear attack in today's world with special attention given to a deteriorating Russian command and control system.".

"The authors argue that small U.S. and Russian arsenals on low alert satisfy all reasonable requirements of deterrence while greatly alleviating the more urgent problem of operational safety. They present a blueprint for making deep cuts in these arsenals and for taking them off hair-trigger alert."--BOOK JACKET.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: Nuclear arms control at a crossroads; title: A strategy of staged reductions and de-alerting of nuclear forces; title: Limiting the role of nuclear weapons; title: Nuclear strategy and targeting doctrine; title: Ballistic missile defenses and deep reductions; title: De-alerting strategic nuclear forces; title: Nuclear forces under staged reductions; title: Tactical and reserve nuclear warheads; title: Transparency and irreversibility in nuclear warhead dismantlement; title: Completing the deep cuts regime; title: Verifying deep reductions in nuclear forces; title: The next nuclear posture review?; title: The road to abolition : how far can we go?