ABSTRACT
In order for US strategic doctrine to have any credibility, it was necessary to have means for dealing with Soviet sponsored aggression that could not be adequately deterred by strategic air power alone. It was thus that the doctrine of limited war evolved. The concept of limited war was the first step taken by the United States in the direction of more limited uses of military power in order to support a foreign policy of containment. The principles of flexible response were formally declared by Defense Secretary Robert S. McNamara in a speech before the American Bar Association on February 17, 1962. During the period of flexible response, McNamara devised strategic nuclear concepts that were to influence US strategic doctrine long after the demise of the flexible response doctrine itself. Thus, the doctrine of realistic deterrence neither served to foster the kind of strategic flexibility deemed necessary by President Nixon, nor appreciably affected the US force posture and defense programs.
