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The Epic Interactive Encyclopedia 1998
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Epic Interactive Encyclopedia, The - 1998 Edition (1998)(Epic Marketing).iso
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D
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Deterrence
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1992-09-02
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The underlying conception of the nuclear arms
race: the belief that a potential aggressor
will be discouraged from launching a `first
strike' nuclear attack by the knowledge that
the adversary is capable of inflicting
`unacceptable damage' in a retaliatory
strike. This doctrine is widely known as that
of mutual assured destruction (MAD). Three
essential characteristics of deterrence are:
the `capability to act', `credibility', and
the `will to act'. Extended deterrence
involves the application of deterrence to an
ally geographically removed from the
deterring state, a notable example being the
US commitment to the defence of W Europe,
requiring capabilities over and above those
needed to deter attack on the USA itself. To
be credible, this involves deployment of US
forces within W Europe in such a manner that
any threat to W Europe would also be
perceived as a threat to the USA. There is
thus constant anxiety about the degree of
commitment and fear that, in a crisis, the
USA (for example) would make decisions
without consulting the nations that it is
supposedly protecting through extended
deterrence.