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Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD)
is a doctrine that emerged during the Cold War, primarily between the United States
and the Soviet Union. It is a strategic concept based on the idea that if both sides
possess a sufficient nuclear arsenal capable of surviving a first strike and retaliating
with devastating force, neither side would initiate a nuclear war due to the certainty
of their own destruction.
In October 1962, the United States discovered that the Soviet Union had secretly
deployed nuclear missiles in Cuba, just 90 miles off the coast of Florida. The presence
of these missiles posed a direct threat to the United States, as they could potentially
reach major American cities within minutes.
This discovery led to a tense standoff between the two superpowers, with the
world on the brink of nuclear war. The United States, under President John F. Kennedy,
demanded the immediate removal of the missiles and established a naval blockade
around Cuba to prevent further Soviet shipments. It was during that period that
the term "Mutual Assured Destruction" (MAD) was coined.
The core principle of MAD is deterrence. It rests on the belief that the threat
of overwhelming retaliation would prevent either side from launching a nuclear attack
because the consequences would be catastrophic for both nations. The doctrine assumes
that leaders are rational actors who prioritize self-preservation and would avoid
actions that would lead to their own annihilation.
Under MAD, each side maintains a secure second-strike capability, which means
they have enough surviving nuclear forces after a first strike to launch a devastating
counterattack. The goal is to create a situation of "assured destruction" where
both sides understand that any aggression would result in their own ruin.
MAD was seen as a stabilizing force during the Cold War because it introduced
a balance of power and prevented the outbreak of a large-scale nuclear conflict
between the superpowers. However, it also led to an arms race as both sides sought
to build up their nuclear arsenals to ensure the credibility of their deterrence.
Since the end of the Cold War, the global strategic landscape has evolved, and
the concept of MAD has been challenged by emerging security threats and the proliferation
of nuclear weapons. However, the idea of deterrence remains a fundamental principle
in international relations and continues to shape nuclear policies and strategic
thinking.
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