CIAO DATE: 11/2011
October 2011
Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard University
Advocates argue that air strikes against the nuclear infrastructure of a targeted state can deny it the option of producing nuclear weapons or at least create delays in its nuclear weapons program. Critics counter that such attacks may intensify the state's determination to acquire nuclear weapons and make a difficult problem more challenging in the long term. Despite the apparent appeal of targeted strikes, states rarely resort to them.
Resource link: Attacks on Nuclear Infrastructure: Opening Pandora's Box? [PDF] - 424K