The Reagan Administration and the 1980s

Abstract

So far we have attempted to establish the main features of American military power from both the conventional and nuclear perspectives without pretending that one is independent of the other. In a superpower confrontation, the utility of conventional forces is as valid as the nuclear deterrent which underpins them; but the credibility of the nuclear balance depends to a large extent on matching the Soviet conventional build-up. At the same time both rely upon the domestic base: technological innovation, the management of defence budgets and the willingness of Congress to vote funds for defence. The strengths and weaknesses of the domestic base are important to recognise, particularly as they cast doubt on the reliability of American forces. As long as the weaknesses persist they will continue to bring into question the credibility of America’s contribution to the Atlantic Alliance.