Environmental tragedies such as Chernobyl and theExxon Valdezremind us that catastrophic accidents are always possible in a world full of hazardous technologies. Yet, theapparentlyexcellent safety record with nuclear weapons has led scholars, policy-makers, and the public alike to believe that nuclear arsenals can serve as a secure deterrent for the foreseeable future. In this provocative book, Scott Sagan challenges such optimism. Sagan's research into formerly classified archives penetrates the veil of safety that has surrounded U.S. nuclear weapons and reveals a hidden history of frightening "close calls" to disaster.
Table of Contents
List of Figures and Tables
Acknowledgments
List of Acronyms
Introduction: Expecting the Unexpected
Ch. 1 The Origins of Accidents
Ch. 2 Nuclear Weapons Safety during the Cuban Missile Crisis
Ch. 3 Intelligence and Warning during the Cuban Missile Crisis
Ch. 4 Redundancy and Reliability: The 1968 Thule Bomber Accident
Ch. 5 Learning by Trial and Terror
Ch. 6 The Limits of Safety
