DEFENSE: On Target

If it should ever come to nuclear retaliation, the U.S. has to be sure that the right targets are chosen in advance, that each target is assigned to some bomber or missile force, and that striking power is not wasted through duplication. As long as the Strategic Air Command held a near monopoly on the U.S.'s long-range striking power, strategic targeting was no major Pentagon problem. But the Navy's long-range carrier bombers were hard to fit in, and the Air Force had no authority to assign targets to Navy units. The development...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!