ABSTRACT
A US-Soviet strategic nuclear exchange would be different from the two world wars of the twentieth century in a number of ways: the magnitude of destruction; the potential for earlier endings; the prospect of a mutual disaster; the probable rapid destruction of a mobilization base; and the potential for total disruption of public order. US and Soviet decision-makers in an acute international crisis or in an escalating regional conflict will be faced with extremely difficult choices. “Victory” in the traditional sense may be impossible in a nuclear war, but exploiting command vulnerability is one low probability path whereby a rival just might achieve “victory” in such a conflict. In a general war involving several nuclear armed camps, successful war termination via negotiation will require such central control of widespread military units, especially when those units possess theater and strategic nuclear weapons that could be used against the homeland of the enemy state.
