Shimko Ch11 The Case For Limited Proliferation 271-275

Proponents of widespread proliferation

• make an exception in the case of Iran.

• think nuclear deterrence will eventually fail.

• think the leaders of Iran are basically rational.

• do not think nuclear weapons had anything to do with the peace of the Cold War.

Advocates of limited nuclear proliferation believe that

• even small nations can build an adequate deterrent.

• nuclear deterrence requires only a few nuclear weapons.

• nuclear deterrence is difficult to achieve.

• we should not worry about a nuclear Iran.

Nuclear deterrence requires

• nuclear weapons that would survive an attack.

• a disarming first strike capability

• a launch on warming policy.

• nuclear abstainers.

Mutual Assured Destruction

• was never achieved during the Cold War.

• undermines deterrence.

• requires survivable nuclear forces.

• would be even stronger with nuclear defenses.

Proliferation optimists base their case on the assumption that

• nuclear powers will eventually agree to eliminate their weapons.

• nuclear weapons would be no more destructive than modern conventional weapons.

• very few nations are likely to acquire nuclear weapons.

• nuclear weapons substantially raise the potential costs of war.

During the Cold War, the United States and Soviet Union based nuclear weapons on land, in the sea, and on planes in the air.

• True

• False

Neither the United States nor the Soviet Union was ever able to build a survivable nuclear retaliatory strike capability.

• True

• False

A nuclear triad consists of weapons based on _________________, _________________, and _____________________.

• land

• planes

• submarines

• space stations

• sharks

What does Mearsheimer think we will miss about the Cold War?

• The proxy wars.

• The stability.

• The total war.

• The fear of nuclear annihilation.

• The spying.

According to Mearsheimer, why do nations start wars?

• Because they are angry.

• Because they think they will win.

• Because democratic institutions force them to.

• Because they are authoritarian.