Facing a Nuclear Armed Adversary in a Regional Contingency: Implications for theJoint Commander

摘要

Among the many challenges facing the United States in the post-Cold War world,none will be more difficult or complex than facing a nuclear armed adversary in a regional contingency. One need only read today's headlines to acknowledge the validity of this threat and to contemplate the awesome responsibilities and risks that would be borne by a joint commander tasked to engage such an adversary. Despite years of experience conducting conventional operations and planning for Cold War nuclear contingencies, the nature of the new threat coupled with the unique destructive power and political implications of nuclear weapons will pose problems whose synergistic affect on the campaign is not yet clearly understood, and for which the commander is unprepared. The possibility of nuclear use will complicate campaign planning, affect course of action development and selection, and alter conventional war fighting doctrine and operations. The time is now for joint commanders to seriously consider and prepare for the nasty business of engaging a nuclear-armed regional adversary. Presidential tasking and deterrence credibility demand it. (MM).