The overarching question imparting urgency to this exploration is: Can U.S.-Russian contention in cyberspace cause the two nuclear superpowers to stumble into war? In considering this question we were constantly reminded of recent comments by a prominent U.S. arms control expert: At least as dangerous as the risk of an actual cyberattack, he observed, is cyber operations’ “blurring of the line between peace and war.” Or, as Nye wrote, “in the cyber realm, the difference between a weapon and a non-weapon may come down to a single line of code, or simply the intent of a computer program’s user.”
In this Project on Managing the Atom seminar, Lt Col Brandon Parker will present a strategic approach for managing uncertainty associated with nuclear disarmament. This ongoing research project examines the continuities and changes within the strategic deterrence environment and the resulting impact on future US nuclear force structure decisions. Ultimately, Lt Col Parker will offer his views on the efficacy of the US nuclear triad in relation to the disarmament agenda.