War and Peace in the Nuclear Age; Interview with Michael Carver, 1987
Description:
Career military officer Lord Michael Carver reached the top ranks of the British army, serving as Chief of both the General Staff (1971-1973) and the Defence Staff (1973-1976), and attaining the rank of Field Marshall. In the interview he explains that the main problem with flexible response is that it fails to take into account what the enemy's response is likely to be. His skepticism about tactical weapons, he recounts, dates back to the 1950s. On the strategic level, he understands the importance of the nuclear deterrent but says it would be "criminally irresponsible" to assume that one side's first use would be met with only a limited response. He takes exception to Britain's assumption of the responsibility of maintaining an independent strategic strike force. He also faults NATO for consistently underestimating soviet missile and delivery capabilities. The pending INF agreement is "welcome" but not something that he says excites him. He belittles the utility of military exercises that assume nuclear clashes. On the other hand, he recalls that nuclear issues were not a particularly "hot" issue when he was in charge of the army. He closes by explaining the paradox that each side in a nuclear conflict must behave as if it is willing to use its arsenal when all fully realize they will be worse off than if they avoid their use.
