ABSTRACT
Nuclear first use is the emblematic failure for sub-strategic nuclear deterrence, just as nuclear first strike is the signal failure for strategic nuclear deterrence. During the Cold War, the possibility of mutual nuclear annihilation as between the United States of America and Russia focused most arms control and military discussion on strategic nuclear weapons and delivery systems. The 2010 Military Doctrine stopped short of references to the use of nuclear weapons in local wars and seemed to place less emphasis on nuclear weapons altogether than pessimists had feared. Both North Atlantic Treaty Organization and Russian leaders recognize that nuclear weapons in the hands of terrorists create an unacceptable risk of a catastrophic attack against their societies. If nuclear weapons of shorter range and lesser yields were capable of being used with the surgical precision of conventional weapons, then shorter range and lower yield nuclear weapons would be stronger candidates for preemption and first use or first strike missions.
