"I'm more concerned about losing the ability to maintain deterrence," Curtis said.

I understand arguments that we need a balance to maintain deterrence.

Not from any study of what each would need to maintain deterrence.

Therefore, maintaining "minimum credible nuclear deterrence" would require Pakistan to review its nuclear policy.

An international conspiracy hides this fact in the interest of maintaining nuclear deterrence.

Given the inevitability of maintaining mutual deterrence, how can this best be done?

Like it or not, maintaining mutual deterrence means preserving the international agreements that establish its framework.

Of the exaggeration of the Communist threat he concludes, "We could have maintained deterrence with a fraction of the number of warheads we built."

So as to maintain credible deterrence, the nuclear-weapons states have taken measures to give their enemies reason to believe that a first strike would lead to unacceptable results.

But cruise and Pershing 11 missiles do more than maintain deterrence in the face of a growing threat.