POL SCI 126 Lecture 3: 1.15.2018 Lecture (Continue from last week)
Document Summary
Cold war context of deterrence, age old strategy, nuclear weapons -mad theory. 1946 bernard brodie using nuclear weapons in a surprise attack would be futile if the other side could retaliate. No victory would be worth the price: thus far the chief purpose of our military has been to win war. Now it must be to avert them it can have almost no other useful purpose : us containment policy. So important to remember what happened last time we withdrew troops: pactomania, us formed cento which was supposed to apply to the middle east, overlooked the importance of interests. This exaggerated soviet union intentions interest in defending cento fell apart. Seto didn"t have much effect in preventing the vietnam war: neglect of political threats. Threats to security of us allies were mostly political. The risk that communists might come to power through free election.
