Air Quote by Alan Dershowitz
“The threat of mutually assured destruction worked for the United States during the Cold War because it had proved its willingness to drop nuclear bombs on enemy cities at the end of World War II. It might work less well for Israel, because the Israeli Air Force has never deliberately targeted a large civilian population center, and its leaders have said its morality would not permit it do so.”
About This Quote
Source Article: Nuclear Deterrence and Ethics, 2015
Mutually assured destruction works when a state shows willingness to use extreme force; however, moral constraints and historical precedent affect its applicability to other nations.
In simple terms: Deterrence needs credible threat and moral limits.
Key Takeaway
Assess ethical boundaries before adopting deterrence strategies.
Themes
deterrence
ethics
military strategy
political realism
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
political
strategic
When to use this quote
- Cold War policy analysis
- modern Middle East security planning
- government advisory meetings
Key Concepts
international relations
moral philosophy
security studies
Questions to Reflect On
- Is it possible to maintain credible deterrence without violating ethics?
- What alternatives exist to nuclear deterrence?
A Different Perspective
Moral constraints may undermine deterrence credibility.
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