ABSTRACT
Many historical arrangements between former or potential belligerents serve as examples of confidence-building measures (CBMs). Modern history most often cites the 1963 "Hotline" agreement as the earliest CRM affecting US-Soviet relations. Military Attaches accredited to the Soviet Ministry of Defense for the purpose of legitimate military observation are prevented in dozens of ways from observing what they have the right and responsibility to observe. Some attribute a potentially important function to military CBMs, The concept is that CBMs may fail to prevent confrontation or to maintain or restore stability, but they could at least deny an adversary the element of surprise or otherwise complicate his aggressive activities. Much of the theoretical debate surrounding the issue of the military utility of CBMs began in military circles in connection with the Mutual and Balanced Force Reduction talks and the general proposition of decreasing the levels of conventional forces in Central Europe.
