The Third World War

Defense Secretary Melvin Laird has stated that the Soviet Union’s current deployment of SS-9 missiles and progress in anti-submarine measures suggest it may be seeking a “first-strike capability.” This could be achieved by the mid-1970s, Laird estimates, unless the U.S. takes adequate countermeasures. What exactly is meant by “first-strike capability”? In one sense any missile has a first-strike capability. It could, that is to say, be fired first, before the other side fires. This is not what is usually meant by the term. It is worth mentioning, however, in order to emphasize a point that is often not recognized or not admitted. Any and every missile, including the missiles making up what is designated a “second-strike force,” has a first-strike capability in this very general sense that it could be fired first, before the enemy fires.

When Secretary Laird spoke of “firststrike capability,” he meant something more: a missile force able, if fired first, to knock out enough of the opponent’s missile force to prevent him from inflicting damage in retaliation.

JB

About the Author

James Burnham

Featured Tags

Defense Secretary Melvin Laird has stated that the Soviet Union’s current deployment of SS-9 missiles and progress in anti-submarine measures suggest it may be seeking a “first-strike capability.” This could be achieved by the mid-1970s, Laird estimates, unless the U.S. takes adequate countermeasures. What exactly is meant by “first-strike capability”? In one sense any missile has a first-strike capability. It could, that is to say, be fired first, before the other side fires. This is not what is usually meant by the term. It is worth mentioning, however, in order to emphasize a point that is often not recognized or not admitted. Any and every missile, including the missiles making up what is designated a “second-strike force,” has a first-strike capability in this very general sense that it could be fired first, before the enemy fires.

When Secretary Laird spoke of “firststrike capability,” he meant something more: a missile force able, if fired first, to knock out enough of the opponent’s missile force to prevent him from inflicting damage in retaliation.