Iran's nuclear future : : critical U.S. policy choices / / Lynn E. Davis [et al.]

As Iran's nuclear program evolves, U.S. decision makers will confront a series of critical policy choices involving complex considerations and policy trade-offs. These policy choices could involve dissuading Iran from developing nuclear weapons; deterring Iran from using its nuclear weapons, if...

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Bibliographic Details
Superior document:Rand Corporation monograph series ; MG-1087-AF
:
TeilnehmendeR:
Year of Publication:2011
Edition:1st ed.
Language:English
Series:Rand Corporation monograph series.
Physical Description:1 online resource (xxv, 125 pages) :; illustrations, color maps (digital, PDF file).
Notes:
  • "MG-1087-AF".
  • "Prepared for the United States Air Force."
  • "RAND Project Air Force."
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Table of Contents:
  • Cover; Title Page; Copyright; Preface; Contents; Figures; Tables; Summary; Acknowledgments; Abbreviations; Chapter One Introduction; Study Objectives and Scope; Analysis Framework for the New Strategic Environment; Step 1: Conduct Regional Analyses; Step 2: Define Ways to Achieve U.S. Goals for Nuclear Dissuasion,Deterrence, and Reassurance; Step 3: Define and Assess Critical U.S. Policy Choices; Step 4: Describe U.S. Air Force Contributions; How Our Analytical Approach Differs from Others; Organization of This Monograph; Chapter Two Influencing Iran; Iran's National Security Interests
  • Ensuring Regime Survival Protecting the Homeland Against All External Threats; Expanding Regional Influence; Can Iran Be Expected to Act Rationally?; Iran's Nuclear Program: Prospects and Uncertainties; Internal Debate on the Future of Iran's Nuclear Program; Chapter Three Dissuading Iran from Nuclear Weaponization; Iranian Actions That the United States Wishes to Dissuade; Current U.S. Policies Toward Iran's Nuclear Program; Critical U.S. Policy Choices; Raise Costs; Provide Incentives; Conclusion; Chapter Four Deterring a Nuclear-Armed Iran; Iran's Military Behavior and Planning
  • Historical Military Behavior Military Doctrine; Conventional Capabilities; Military Exercises; Paths to Conflict; Conflict in Response to International Pressures and Actions Perceived as Acts of War; Conflict in Response to a U.S. or Israeli Attack Against Iran's Nuclear Facilities; Conflict to Expand Regional Influence or Consolidate Domestic Power; Iran's Potential Use of Nuclear Weapons; Current U.S. Policies and Capabilities; Policy Choices for Deterring Iran's Use of Nuclear Weapons Against U.S. Military Forces; Deter by Managing Conflict Escalation
  • Deter by Raising the Costs of Using Nuclear Weapons by Threat of Retaliation Deter by Denying Iran the Benefits of Using Nuclear Weapons; Policy Choices for Deterring Iran's Use of Nuclear Weapons Against U.S. Regional Partners; Conclusion; Chapter Five Reassuring U.S. Regional Partners; The Setting; Views of the GCC States; Views of Israel; Current U.S. Policies for Reassurance; U.S. Reassurance Goal: Ensure Confidence in Credibility of a U.S. Nuclear Deterrent; Explicit and Public Security Guarantees; U.S. Conventional Forces; U.S. Nuclear-Related Military Activities; U.S. Nuclear Guarantee
  • Conclusion Chapter Four Approaches to Influencing Iran; Approaches to Influencing Iran; Chapter : 7; Air Force Contributions and Preparing for the Future; The Way Ahead; Appendixes; A. Context for U.S. Reassurance Strategies: GCC; B. Context for U.S. Reassurance Strategies: Israel; Bibliography