Nuclear Weapons & Proliferation

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Questions and Answers

Match the following groups with their general view on nuclear proliferation, according to the NPEC document:

Hawks = Oppose proliferation to hostile states but support civilian nuclear cooperation with allies. Academic Skeptics/Finite Deterrence Enthusiasts = Argue further proliferation is less harmful and could help keep the peace. Academic Skeptics/Finite Deterrence Critics = Argue nuclear weapons are ineffective at deterring many conflicts. Neorealists = Suggest proliferation to select countries could bolster U.S. security.

Match each country with its action or stance regarding nuclear weapons, as noted in the NPEC document:

Russia = Explicitly discussed advantages of first use of nuclear weapons. Japan = Has a large stockpile of civilian plutonium and legally clarified its atomic energy program supports national security. Iran = Its nuclear program has spurred proliferation concerns in the Middle East. South Korea = Desires to expand uranium enrichment capacity.

Match the following terms with their definitions according to the 2022 National Defense Strategy (NDS):

Integrated Deterrence = Coordinated use of all DoD tools alongside interagency and allied efforts. Campaigning = Day-to-day military activities to gain and sustain military advantages and counter competitor coercion. Building Enduring Advantages = Reforms in force development, technology investment, and strengthening the defense ecosystem. Deterrence by Resilience = Enhancing the ability to withstand, fight through, and recover quickly from disruption.

Match the following terms related to nuclear proliferation with their meaning:

Nonproliferation Regime = International efforts to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons. Fissile Material = Material capable of sustaining a nuclear fission chain reaction. Tactical Nuclear Weapons = Smaller nuclear weapons used in specific battlefield situations. ICBM = Long-range missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons. Signup and view all the answers

Match the following U.S. administrations with their stance on a world without nuclear weapons, according to Drell and Goodby:

Several U.S. Administrations = Have stated the goal of a nuclear weapons-free world in treaties. Truman Administration = Adopted the Acheson-Lilienthal Report, shortly following World War II. Acheson-Lilienthal Report = The goal of a nuclear weapons-free world has not provided a compass for policy. Drell and Goodby = Advocate for reasserting the vision of a nuclear-free world as an operationally meaningful goal. Signup and view all the answers

Match the following potential WMD crises with a description:

Collapse of the Nonproliferation Regime = Increased nuclear proliferation and potential terrorist acquisition of nuclear weapons. Failed WMD-Armed State = WMD falling into the hands of hostile factions or non-state actors due to a state's political collapse. Biological Terror Campaign = A large-scale release of aerosolized anthrax. Nuclear Detonation in a U.S. City = Catastrophic nuclear attack on a major U.S. urban center. Signup and view all the answers

Match each country or entity with its specific activity related to biological weapons, as reported in the provided texts:

Japan = Used biological weapons against Chinese civilians during the 1940s. Soviet Union = Continued its biological weapons program secretly after signing the BWC. Rajneeshees = Contaminated food with Salmonella in Oregon in 1984. Iraq = Developed Al Husayn missile warheads to deliver biological agents. Signup and view all the answers

Match each historical effort with its aim regarding biological weapons:

1925 Geneva Protocol = Banned the use of bacteriological methods of warfare. 1972 Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) = Prohibited development, production, and stockpiling of biological and toxin weapons. Australia Group = Sought to control exports contributing to the spread of chemical and biological weapons. UN Security Council Resolution 1540 = Focused to prevent non-state actors from acquiring WMD. Signup and view all the answers

Match weapon violence categorization with its definition:

Biological Warfare = Use of biological weapons by states against other states. Bioterrorism = Use of biological weapons by terrorist groups. Biocrimes = Criminal use of biological weapons for gain, revenge, or pathology. Dual-Use Technology = Technology with legitimate commercial, scientific, or medical uses that makes acquiring the foundational capabilities for BW easier Signup and view all the answers

Match the following aspects of the US response to WMD threats with its shortfall identified in the report:

WMD Elimination = Lack of sufficient military units to secure WMD programs. Consequence Management = Insufficient emergency response teams with WMD capabilities. Attribution = Challenges in identifying the source of a WMD attack. Leadership = A deemphasis on nculear missions since the end of the Cold war has resulted in few general and flag officers having significant WMD expertise. Signup and view all the answers

Match the steps to improve U.S. preparedness:

Strengthening Nonproliferation Efforts = Dissuade allies from developing nuclear capabilities. Enhancing Capabilities = Invest in WMD detection, interdiction, elimination, and counterforce. Improving Coordination = Inventory counter-WMD forces. Bolstering Deterrence = Review and strenghten US declaratory policy. Signup and view all the answers

Match the following challenges and changes:

Decisive Decade = Significant geopolitical, technological, economic, and environmental shifts. Pacing Challenge = The the People's Republic of China (PRC). Acute Threat = Russia's Evolving Security Environment = The interconnectedness of challenges stemming from a shifting balance of military capabilities. Signup and view all the answers

Match the actions with states or regions:

East Asia = Potential for a nuclear arms race driven by China and Japan. South Asia = Rivalry between India and Pakistan. Middle East = Nuclear Program has spurred proliferation concerns. Europe = Commitment to NATO, focusing in interoperability and countering Russian threats. Signup and view all the answers

Match the four potential WMD crises with the action.

Collapse of the Nonproliferation Regime = Characterized by increased nuclear proliferation, potential terrorist acquisition of nuclear weapons. Failed WMD-armed State = A scenario where a state possessing nuclear,chemical, and biological weapons collapses Biological Terror Campaign = A large-scale release of aerosolized anthrax within the United states. Nuclear Detonation in a U.S. City = Cataastrophic scenario of a nuclear attack on a major U.S urban center. Signup and view all the answers

Match the action with what it is increasing.

the development of tactical nuclear weapons and Cold Start doctrines = increases the risk of escalation Japan's desire for enrichment and reprocessing capabilities and China's nuclear modernization = contribute to regional tensions. the sharing of 'peaceful' nuclear technology with proliferation-prone states = can bring them to the 'very brink of acquiring bombs.' The proliferation of long-range missiles = increases the number of actors that can play a role in regional disputes' Signup and view all the answers

Match the type of goal and its description.

The Declared but Inactive Goals = While the goal of a nuclear weapons-free world has been stated by several U.S administration and included in treaties. Prevailing View of Nuclear Deterrence = Acknowleges that widely accepted belief that nuclear weapons are necessary for effective deterrence againist attack. Progress must be facilitated by a statement of Ultimate Goal = Indeed, this is the only way to build the kind ofinternational trust and broad cooperation that will be required to effectively address today's threats. The Importance of the ultimate goal = The authors argue that clearly stating the ultimate goal of a nuclear-free world is essential for building the necessary international trust and cooperation to effectively address current nuclear threats. Signup and view all the answers

Match the concern with what it increases:

Addressing Concerns about Verification and Breakout = Drell and Goodby acknowledge the challenges of verification, particularly regarding non-deployed weapons. The Limitations of Nuclear Deterrence in a Proliferated World = The authors argue that the relative stability of Cold War era U.S -Soviet nuclear deterrence, under unique circumstances, cannot be assumed to hold. The Role of Expectations and Political Will = The article emphasizes that expectations about the future role and legitimacy of nuclear weapons influence national decision-making. The Necessity of the Vision for Progress = The authors conclude that the vision of a world without nuclear weapons is a necessary contidion for making progress on practical steps towards reducing nuclear dangers and achieving interational cooperation. Signup and view all the answers

Match the view and who is it from:

<h1>A Counter Argument for Pursuing Elimination = Drell and Goodby advocate for reasserting the vision of a nuclear-free world as an opertionally meaningful goal</h1> Practical Steps Towards Reduction = The authors disagree with the notion that persuing complete elimination would detract from practical arms contol. Shared Grounds with Realists on near term actions = Notably, the authors agree with those who prioritize more modest goals (like former Secrectary of Defense Harold Brown) on the need for immediate practical steps to reduce nuclear dangers Signup and view all the answers

Match the four potential WMD crises with the description:

Collapse of the Nonproliferation Regime = Characterized by increased nuclear proliferation, potential terrorist acquisition of nuclear weapons. Failed WMD-armed State = A scenario where a state possessing nuclear,chemical, and biological weapons collapses Biological Terror Campaign = A large-scale release of aerosolized anthrax within the United states. Nuclear Detonation in a U.S. City = The catastrophic scenario of a nuclear attack on a major U.S urban center. Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Avalanche of Proliferation

The potential for a rapid increase in nuclear weapons proliferation, triggered by the successful use of nuclear weapons by a state.

Finite Deterrence Enthusiasts

The belief that further nuclear proliferation isn't harmful and may deter wars, due to nuclear weapons' effectiveness.

Finite Deterrence Critics

The idea that nuclear weapons are ineffective at deterring many conflicts, like smaller wars and terrorism, thus their spread is less consequential.

Limited Utility of Nuclear Weapons

The argument that nuclear weapons have been unsuccessful in deterring conventional wars and terrorist attacks.