Managing Nuclear Operations

One of the first things you notice is the weight of this tome, (1 5/8-inch spine) and the intellectual weight of contributors to the book. Household names include John Toomay, Russell Dougherty, Michael May, Paul Bracken and the editors. Flipping through the work reveals an essential list of acronyms, outstanding graphics, and thoroughly-footnoted text. The book is divided into three sections: (1) nuclear operations, (2) the command system, and; (3) policy perspectives. My primary interest was in policy, (which required reading the whole book). Highly technical subjects like communications links are rendered at a level that I had no trouble understanding. Technical descriptions are so well written that even elected officials will understand them. Common misconceptions among memebers of the public are discussed. One such misconception is that a nuclear exchange is supposed to flatten everthing in the opposing nation. An interesting, related film describing Minuteman training operations is "Missile," Zipporah Films, 1986.