The Strategic Arms Reductions Talks between the United States and Russia call for the de-alerting of certain types of strategic missiles prior to their final elimination. Lowering the alert level of missiles by mutual agreement is a new form of arms control. In this book, Bruce Blair describes various options for de-alerting and analyzes their implications for strategic balance and safety. These options offer an important step toward fulfilling Start obligations and toward the elimination of the "hair trigger" on thousands of strategic weapons poised for immediate launch.Blair calls for the early implementation of de-alerting measures in order to alleviate the current danger of mistaken or accidental launch of strategic missiles. De-alerting in parallel by the U.S. and Russia provides a means of reducing nuclear tensions and increasing the safety of deployed forces. The former adversaries could and should adopt partial de-alerting measures immediately with a view to eventually going to zero alert.
- ISBN10 0815710070
- ISBN13 9780815710073
- Publish Date June 1998
- Publish Status Cancelled
- Out of Print 16 August 2006
- Publish Country US
- Imprint Brookings Institution
- Format Paperback
- Pages 90
- Language English