ABSTRACT
This chapter examines some of the broader theoretical implications of the nuclear-cyber nexus for students of national security policy and warfare. It focuses on United States of America-Russian strategic nuclear deterrence and arms control as policy related settings for nuclear and cyber relationships. The chapter analyzes how the combination of nuclear and cyber attacks might at least hypothetically impact nuclear deterrence stability. Cyber weapons should appeal to those who prefer a non-nuclear, or even a post-nuclear, military-technical arc of development. Nuclear weapons, whether held back for deterrence or fired in anger, must be incorporated into systems for command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR). The weapons and their C4ISR systems must be protected from attacks both kinetic and digital in nature. The temptation for early cyber preemption might "succeed" to the point at which nuclear crisis management becomes weaker instead of stronger.
