Publication

In a recent issue of International Security, Scott Sagan argues that the current U.S. policy of "calculated ambiguity" is fawed. This policy regards the use of chemical or biological weapons against the United States as a serious act of aggression and threatens an overwhelming response to such attacks, although the means of retaliation are intention- ally left ambiguous. The policy is intended to strengthen the ability of the United States to deter a chemical or biological attack, by leaving open the possibility that the United States will respond to such an attack with a nuclear strike.