01953cam a2200373 i 4500 rnd000000000048573 RAND 920212s1991 cau b 000 0 eng d 92104330 0833018701 RAND/N-3261-A (Sirsi) a190637 Online only CstmoR CstmoR U162.6 .W65 1991 Wolf, Barry M. author. When the weak attack the strong : failures of deterrence / Barry Wolf. Santa Monica, CA : RAND, 1991. ix, 21 pages ; 28 cm text txt rdacontent computer c rdamedia unmediated n rdamedia online resource cr rdacarrier volume nc rdacarrier This research "is being carried out by RAND's Army Research Division, the Arroyo Center"--Preface. Includes bibliographical references (p. 19-21). One potential justification for a thin area missile defense is the increasing proliferation of ballistic missiles and weapons of mass destruction. However, it has been argued that states possessing such weapons would not attack much stronger states such as the United States and the Soviet Union. This Note examines historical instances of attacks by states against much stronger counterparts. A taxonomy of such deterrence failures is formulated and illustrated with examples. Conclusions are drawn about the applicability of various types of deterrence failure to potential attacks by states possessing weapons of mass destruction against stronger states. Also available on the internet via WWW in PDF format. Description based on print version record. Deterrence (Strategy) Arroyo Center. Rand Corporation. United States. Army. Online Access http://www.rand.org/publications/N/N3261/ 600367 600367