2011 Articles

The 2010 Nuclear Posture Review: the Nexus of Biological Weapons Threats and U.S. Nuclear Weapons Policy

Culp, Derrin

The U.S. government released its Nuclear Posture Review (NPR) Report in 2010. The NPR Report is declaratory policy that warns adversaries and assures allies about how the U.S. would use nuclear weapons to defend the people, territories, and vital interests of the United States. The NPR Report reflects the current administration‘s beliefs that nuclear weapons are not highly relevant to defending against biological weapons (BW) threats, but that unpredictable scientific developments could necessitate a return to greater reliance on nuclear weapons for protection.