Getting MAD: Nuclear Mutual Assured Destruction, Its Origins and Practice

Introduction

• Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD): A doctrine of military strategy where a full-scale use of nuclear weapons by two or more opposing sides would cause complete annihilation of both the attacker and the defender.
• Origin: Concept popularized in the Cold War era, influencing global nuclear strategy.

Part I: The Origins of MAD Thinking

1. A Short History of City-Busting

• 20th Century Total War: Introduction of strategic bombing, targeting cities as a tactic.
• World War I & II: Shift from military to civilian targets, massive bombings in Europe and Japan.
• The Zeppelin and Gotha Raids: Early strategic bombings leading to civilian targeting.
• Douhet's Theory: Advocated for bombing civilian centers to break morale.

2. French Nuclear Strategy (1945-81)

• Post-WWII: France's nuclear policy shaped by need for deterrence and sovereignty.
• Charles de Gaulle: Advocated for independent nuclear capability.
• Development: Focus on strategic autonomy and deterrence against stronger powers.

3. U.S. Navy's SLBM Program

• Polaris Missile: Development of submarine-launched ballistic missiles for second-strike capability.
• Navy's Role: Protected strategic mission, contributing to deterrence framework.

4. U.S. Strategy under McNamara

• City-Sparing Strategy: Attempt to minimize civilian casualties in nuclear strategy.
• Flexible Response: Strategy of limited nuclear options to improve deterrence credibility.

Part II: MAD in Practice

5. Soviet Nuclear Strategy

• Cold War Doctrine: Emphasis on war-fighting capability, later shifting to deterrence.
• Interviews with Soviet Officials: Claimed no belief in victory through nuclear war, focused on deterrence.

6. PD-59 and U.S. Nuclear Options

• Presidential Decision-59: Introduction of flexible nuclear response options.
• Carter Administration: Shifted focus from MAD to targeting military objectives.

7. France's Nuclear Deterrence Strategy

• Post-Cold War Adjustments: Emphasis on deterring regional powers with WMDs.
• Nuclear Posture: Continued development of flexible, credible deterrence options.

Part III: Moving Beyond MAD

10. Small Nuclear Powers

• Nuclear Doctrine: Diverse approaches among smaller nuclear states like India, Pakistan, and Israel.

11. Retaliation After Deterrence Fails

• Strategic Considerations: Examination of nuclear and non-nuclear retaliation.

12. Proliferation Concerns

• Nonproliferation Efforts: Challenges in preventing nuclear technology spread.

Conclusion

• MAD's Influence: Significant impact on global nuclear policy during and after the Cold War.
• Contemporary Relevance: Ongoing debates about nuclear strategy and deterrence.

Key Takeaways

• MAD Theory: Central to Cold War nuclear strategy, focusing on deterrence through the threat of mutual destruction.
• Shifts in Strategy: With changing geopolitical dynamics, nuclear strategies evolved, emphasizing flexibility and precision.
• Nuclear Deterrence Evolution: From assured destruction to nuanced deterrence postures to address contemporary threats.