February 23, 2012
IMAGINE THE SUFFERING HE'D HAVE SAVED IF HE'D DONE BOTH THE PRC AND THE USSR:
A Chinese Parable: What history can teach us about nuclear deterrence (MICHAEL BURLEIGH, 23rd February 2012, Daily Mail)
In the final months of his presidency, John F Kennedy contacted Khrushchev with a view to a joint pre-emptive strike against the Chinese nuclear research complex at Lop Nor.Despite being appalled by Chairman Mao's disregard for the consequences of nuclear war, Khrushchev was not interested in Kennedy's soundings.On 24 October 1964 China detonated its first test bomb at Lop Nor. President Lyndon Johnson contemplated destroying the site, but his commanders explained that only a nuclear strike would ensure such an outcome. Johnson settled for containing China instead.
The fatal flaw of deterrence is that it is always accompanied by acceptance of the evil regime. A nuclear strike on their arsenal/program, on the other hand, is destabilizing.
Posted by Orrin Judd at February 23, 2012 6:48 AM
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