Strategic Target Planning: Bridging the Gap between Theory and Practice.

摘要

In seeking a more flexible nuclear strategy, national policymakers may not be taking into account technical limitations to strategic target planning. This doubt is the driving concern behind this study. The author suggests that, because of recent changes in our nuclear strategy, the nuclear arsenal and the enemy target system, a gap may have developed between strategic targeting theory and practice. After tracing the evolution of nuclear targeting, he turns to ways of dealing with the technical constraints faced by target planners. His foremost concern is that strategic targeting concepts do not exceed our technical ability to implement. He proposes improvements in our strategic forces' command, control, and communications facilities to better ensure rapid retargeting . He also argues for more reliable and detailed target intelligence and recommends that a special coordination committee be created to oversee new targeting initiatives.