More Nukes!

The best defense against nuclear weapons is nuclear weapons, according to the logic of deterrence. It has guided US defense policy for nearly 80 years. So, shouldn’t more nukes prevent nuclear war even more?

For the first time since the Cold War, that argument is gaining momentum at the highest levels of US government. There is a push to build more nukes, different nukes, and new kinds of nukes. Russia, China, and North Korea are expanding their arsenals — Washington is mulling whether the US must keep up. Former senior Pentagon official Vipin Narang makes the case for more nukes to Ben Bradford, who follows it down a rabbit hole of deterrence, escalation, plans to “win” nuclear war, and the face-palming, growing problem of little wee baby “tactical” nukes.

In nuclear strategy, is the only answer to “too many doomsday weapons,” more doomsday weapons? And, is that sustainable?

Guest:

Vipin Narang, former Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense, nuclear security and political science professor at MIT.

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Other episodes about nukes:
How to Start a Nuclear War
How to Survive a Nuclear War

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