Excerpts from the 2001 Nuclear Posture Review
The following significant excerpts from the Nuclear Posture Review were posted on the web-
site of globalsecurity.org, a policy research organization directed by John Pike.
"Nuclear weapons play a critical role in the defense capabilities of the United States, its allies
and friends. They provide credible military options to deter a wide range of threats, including
WMD and large-scale conventional military force. These nuclear capabilities possess unique
properties that give the United States options to hold at risk classes of targets [that are] impor-
tant to achieve strategic and political objectives." (p. 7)
However, “U.S. nuclear forces, alone are unsuited to most of the contingencies for which the
United States prepares. The United States and allied interests may not require nuclear strikes.”
A “new mix” of nuclear, non-nuclear, and defensive capabilities “is required for the diverse
set of potential adversaries and unexpected threats the United States may confront in the com-
ing decades.” (p. 7)
"Greater flexibility is needed with respect to nuclear forces and planning than was the case
during the Cold War. The assets most valued by the spectrum of potential adversaries in the
new security environment may be diverse and, in some cases, U.S. understanding of what an
adversary values may evolve. Consequently, although the number of weapons needed to hold
those assets at risk has declined, U.S. nuclear forces still require the capability to hold at risk a
wide range of target types. This capability is key to the role of nuclear forces in supporting an
effective deterrence strategy relative to a broad spectrum of potential opponents under a vari-
ety of contingencies. Nuclear attack options that vary in scale, scope, and purpose will com-
plement other military capabilities. The combination can provide the range of options needed
to posed a credible deterrent to adversaries whose values and calculations of risk and of gain
and loss may be very different from and more difficult to discern than those of past adversar-
ies.” (p. 7)
"Advances in defensive technologies will allow U.S. non-nuclear and nuclear capabilities to
be coupled with active and passive defenses to help provide deterrence and protection against
attack, preserve U.S. freedom of action, and strengthen the credibility of U.S. alliance, com-
mitments. " (p. 7)
"Missile defenses are beginning to emerge as systems that can have an effect on the strategic
and operational calculations of potential adversaries. They are now capable of providing, ac-
tive defenses against short- to medium-range threats." (p. 11)
U.S. military forces themselves, including nuclear forces will now be used to "dissuade adver-
saries from undertaking military programs or operations that could threaten U.S. interests of
those of allies and friends." (p. 9)
"Defensive systems capable of intercepting ballistic missiles, may reduce the need for nuclear
weapons to hold at risk an adversary's missile launchers." (p. 9)
“A modern, responsive nuclear weapons sector of the infrastructure is indispensable, espe-
cially as the size of the operationally deployed nuclear arsenal is reduced.” (p. 10-11)
