The entire calculus of having nuclear weapons in the first place rests on the assumption that no one will use them because to use them invites a retaliatory strike. Reducing the likelihood of a retaliatory strike, under this model, increases the likelihood of nuclear weapons being used.<p>Now of course, this model may be wrong (pre-emptive strike on non-nuclear state with no nuclear allies); but I&#x27;m somewhat disturbed that the Pentagon employees don&#x27;t seem to understand this. Maybe they do, and the author only gave the initial reaction rather than their full counterargument.