Counterproliferation strategy : the role of preventive war, preventive strikes, and interdiction
Loading...
Authors
Rak, Claire E.
Subjects
Preventive War
Preventive Strikes
Preemptive Strikes
Interdiction
Iraq
North Korea
China
Soviet Union
Second World War
Counterproliferation
Weapons of Mass Destruction
Preventive Strikes
Preemptive Strikes
Interdiction
Iraq
North Korea
China
Soviet Union
Second World War
Counterproliferation
Weapons of Mass Destruction
Advisors
Lavoy, Peter R.
Date of Issue
2003-09
Date
Publisher
Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
This thesis analyzes the potential effectiveness of preventive war, preventive strikes, and interdiction as tools for the United States to counter the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). Examination of these three counterproliferation techniques is important because the George W. Bush administration has given more prominence to military operations to deal with WMD threats. Six historical cases of preventive war, preventive strikes, and interdiction, against adversarial WMD programs are examined to show the conditions that make military options desirable and effective and the issues that make their implementation difficult. These case studies reveal that interdiction and preventive strikes are viable and can be effective under very limited legal, political, and military circumstances. Although the United States successfully conducted a preventive war against Saddam Hussein's Iraq, this strategy is not likely to succeed in the cases of Iran and North Korea.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
National Security Affairs
Organization
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funding
Format
viii, 51 p. ;
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.