Quote:
Originally Posted by CliffFletcher
Thousands of pages of escalation scenarios and measures are detailed in planning documents. They’ve been wargamed hundreds of times, and in the great majority of scenarios once the U.S. and USSR are engaged in open conventional combat, the measure and counter-measures escalate to full nuclear launch. When delaying a reaction by even 15 minutes might mean the destruction of your strike forces on the ground, the incentive to strike first and massively becomes irresistible.
For a chilling history of the existential risks inherent in nuclear preparedness, read Command and Control by Eric Schlosser.
|
By the way, great book.
Russian tactics inevitably call for the use of battlefield nuclear weapons or chemical weapons to deal with reversals, or an unwinnable defense scenario. Soviet Generals used to be encouraged to think creatively in terms of the use of chemical and nuclear weapons in their plans because they believed that as long as they used battlefield weapons, Nato wouldn't esclate to a strategic nuclear war (City busting)
Americans have several scenarios where they will release tactical nukes to a battle field commander, but politically its harder to get that release.
Russian senior Military advisors such as the defense ministery can actually launch with the head of the government being in the room. Its unlikely to happen but it can.