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1 Introduction
Pages 13-21

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From page 13...
... III missile.1 In the future as in the past, however, rapid political, economic, and technological change may alter priorities in national and thus in Air Force deterrence considerations. During a period of extreme national emergency in the middle of the 20th century, the United States partnered with its British allies in a secret, expensive, risky, and urgent project, which created the world's first nuclear weapon.
From page 14...
... nuclear stockpile rose to over 31,000 weapons, including deployed and nondeployed weapons.4 Strategic weapons were deployed briefly on a quadrad of delivery systems, which included intercontinental-range cruise missiles, 5 and then on a triad of long-range bombers,6 intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) ,7 2  Although there is scholarly debate about how to weigh the different factors that led to Japan's surrender, the decision came rapidly after the deployment of nuclear weapons.
From page 15...
... The NPT was extended indefinitely in 1995 and remains in force today, although some believe its future is problematic if a new wave of proliferation begins. 13  In 1954, an American thermonuclear test contaminated a Japanese fishing trawler, helping spark a worldwide movement seeking the end of nuclear testing.
From page 16...
... At the transition from the Cold War, Congress first imposed a moratorium on further American nuclear testing (Hatfield-Exon-Mitchell Amendment, 1992) , and the Clinton administration then championed Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT)
From page 17...
... Fears that Iraq was reconstituting its nuclear program, and nuclear proliferation in North Korea,16 15  President William Jefferson Clinton took office in 1993 as the first post-Cold War American presi dent. Proliferation of WMD to rogue states became a priority for his administration.
From page 18...
... The nuclear arms race between these two rivals is a continuing source of concern, as are such possibilities as political change in Pakistan that could bring a radical Islamic government to power and Pakistan's security arrangements with Saudi Arabia (some speculate that if Iran goes nuclear, Saudi Arabia will get nuclear weapons from Pakistan)
From page 19...
... nuclear forces will continue to be important in both security matters and international relations. In the words of the NPR, As long as nuclear weapons exist, the United States must sustain a safe, secure, and effec tive nuclear arsenal -- to maintain strategic stability with other major nuclear powers, deter potential adversaries, and reassure our allies and partners of our security commitments to them.20 The administration also has made clear that the United States will continue seeking to "reduce the role of nuclear weapons in deterring nonnuclear attacks," consistent with its security assurances to others and with continued efforts at ne gotiating further numerical reductions in nuclear arsenals.
From page 20...
... nuclear forces remains highly uncertain. Budget battles between Congress and the admin istration often force DoD to cut funds from modernization accounts in order to fund operations and maintenance, in effect trading future capabilities for near-term readiness.
From page 21...
... Finally, Chapter 4 provides the complete sets recommendations, along with supporting findings and associated rationales.


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