National Defense:
Serious Games and Rational Planning
I. Game Theory, Rationality and Defense Policy
II. Why War Happens
A. Human Nature
1. Natural Aggressiveness
2. Leadership Flaws and Miscalculations
3. Acquisitiveness
B. Nature of Society
1. Violence and Dictatorships
2. Nationalism
3. Population Pressures
4. Unequal Distribution of Resources
5. Cultural Propensities
6. Political Ideologies
7. Religious Beliefs
8. Technological Imperative
C. Geography
1. Inadequacy of Resources
2. Access to Sea Ports
3. Strategic Locations
III. The Question of Just Wars - Their Widely Accepted Characteristics
A. Self-Defense
B. Pursuit of "Evil"
C. Official Declaration
D. Prior Exhaustion of Peaceful Efforts to Resolve Dispute
E. Good to be Achieved Outweighs Damage Done
F. Conduct Seeks to Minimize Harm to Noncombatants
A. Cold War Approaches
1. First and Second Strike Capabilities
2. M*A*D*
3. The Nuclear Triad (U.S. Nuclear Arsenal)
a. ICBMs (description)
b. Air Based Strategic Weapons (description)
c. SLBMs (description)
4. Nuclear Warheads (description)
B. Post Cold-War Approaches and Issues
1. Minimal Deterrence
2. Non-deterrable Threats
3. Spread of Weapons of Mass Destruction
5. Missile Defense Initiative
a. pro
b. con
V. Nuclear Arms Control
A. SALT I (1972)
B. SALT II (1979)
C. START I (1991)
D. START II (continuing)
E. INF Treaty (1987)
F. The Future of U.S. Nuclear Weapons Policy
G. NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION
VI. NATO and European Security
A. Beginnings and Expansion
B. Collapse of USSR and Warsaw Pact
C. German Unification
D. Russian Instability
E. Yugoslavian Involvement
VII. Regional Threats
A. MidEast
1. Iraq
2. Iran
3. Syria
4. Lybia
B. Asia
1. China
2. North Korea
VIII. Guiding Principles of Military Use
A. Vital National Interest
B. Clear Military Objective
C. Use of Overwhelming Forces
D. Popular Support
E. Unified Government Support
F. Military Control of Military Matters
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