Ace in the Hole
eBook - PDF

Ace in the Hole

Why the United States Did Not Use Nuclear Weapons in the Cold War, 1945 to 1965

  1. 328 pages
  2. English
  3. PDF
  4. Available on iOS & Android
eBook - PDF

Ace in the Hole

Why the United States Did Not Use Nuclear Weapons in the Cold War, 1945 to 1965

About this book

Using newly released documents, the author presents an integrated look at American nuclear policy and diplomacy in crises from the Berlin blockade to Vietnam. The book answers the question why, when the atomic bomb had been used with such devastating effect against the Japanese Empire in 1945, American leaders put this most apocalyptic of weapons back on the shelf, never to be used again in anger. It documents the myopia of Potomac strategists in involving the U.S. in wars of attrition in Korea and Southeast Asia, marginal areas where American vital interests were in no way endangered. Despite the presence of hundreds, then thousands of nuclear bombs and warheads in the nation's stockpile, the greatest military weapon in history became politically impossible to use. And yet overwhelming nuclear superiority did serve its ultimate purpose in the Cold War. When American vital interests were threatened—over Berlin and Cuba—the Soviets backed down from confrontation. Despite errors in strategic judgment brought on by fear of Communist expansion, and in some cases outright incompetence, the ace in the hole proved decisive.

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Yes, you can access Ace in the Hole by Timothy J. Botti in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in History & North American History. We have over one million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.

Information

Publisher
Praeger
Year
1996
Print ISBN
9780313299766
eBook ISBN
9780313031854
Edition
1
Topic
History
Index
History

Table of contents

  1. Contents
  2. Abbreviations
  3. 1.Sayonara Sanity?
  4. 2.War Scare
  5. 3.The Soviets Draw an Ace
  6. 4.Strategic Error
  7. 5.First Forbearance
  8. 6.The Cart Before the Horse
  9. 7.French Chestnuts in the Fire
  10. 8.The President Vacillates
  11. 9.Muscling Up
  12. 10.Sword of Damocles
  13. 11.The Last Sideshow
  14. 12.The Autobahn to Armageddon
  15. 13.Cocked Gun
  16. 14.Amateur Hour
  17. 15. Harebrained Schemes
  18. 16. Muddling Through
  19. 17. Multilateral Folly
  20. 18. High Noon
  21. 19. Two Bluffs
  22. 20. Best-Laid Plans
  23. 21. Strategic Incompetence
  24. 22. Unplayable Card?
  25. Notes
  26. Bibliography
  27. Index