The US planned for massive retaliation in case of attack from "summary" of The Doomsday Machine by Daniel Ellsberg
The United States had a plan for how to respond if it were attacked. This plan involved launching a massive retaliation against the enemy. The idea was to deter any potential aggressor from even considering an attack on the US. The concept was based on the belief that the threat of overwhelming retaliation would make any enemy think twice before launching an attack. This concept of massive retaliation was deeply ingrained in the US military and political mindset. It was seen as a crucial part of the country's defense strategy. The belief was that if the US demonstrated its willingness to respond with full force, it would prevent any enemy from taking aggressive action. The plan for massive retaliation was not just a theoretical concept - it had been carefully thought out and detailed. The US military had specific targets identified, such as enemy cities and military installations, that would be hit in the event of an attack. There were also plans for coordinating the response across different branches of the military. The idea behind massive retaliation was to make it clear to any potential aggressor that the consequences of attacking the US would be severe. By demonstrating the country's willingness to respond with overwhelming force, the hope was that the US could prevent conflicts from escalating into full-scale wars. However, the concept of massive retaliation was not without its critics. Some argued that it was too extreme and could lead to unnecessary destruction and loss of life. There were also concerns about the potential for escalation and the risk of triggering a nuclear war. Despite these criticisms, the concept of massive retaliation remained a central part of US defense policy for many years. It was only later that some policymakers began to question whether such a strategy was truly effective in deterring aggression. The debate over the merits of massive retaliation continues to this day.
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