National Security and The Nuclear Dilemma, 1945-1991 Review

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(More customer reviews)Terrific and concise summary of the Cold War, specifically from the angle of nuclear strategy. The book is both highly dense and concise. Thus, it is challenging at times and does not qualify as leisure reading. Either way, it is one of the most objective works I have ever read on the Cold War and covers, not only the evolution of nuclear arms and arms control diplomacy, but also the evolution of the intellectual debate underlying the Cold War. This book challenges the myth-making and varnishing that goes on both sides. One finds that the Cold War was not a simple matter of doves vs hawks. The contradictory logic of nuclear strategy meant that arms control specialists, at times, advocated large buildups. Other paradoxes like these came to define the Cold War and challenge simplistic notions of liberal vs conservative thought. Only in this setting could the ultimate hawk, Ronald Reagan, envision a largely-pacifist and semi-utopian vision of a world free of the threat of nuclear missiles. The book also covers highly technical matters, such as the various types of missile systems and strategic policies, complete with mind-numbing acronyms: ALCMs, CBMs, EMP, CDE, CSCE, etc. A student of the Cold War will find Mr. Smoke's research exhaustive. Sadly, Mr. Smoke reportedly committed suicide. With this book, he has made a lasting contribution to the literature and has provided young national security analysts with a valuable introduction to the complexities of the Cold War.

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