Conversations with History: Institute of International Studies, UC Berkeley

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This interview is part of the Institute's "Conversations with History" series, and uses Internet technology to share with the public Berkeley's distinction as a global forum for ideas.

Welcome to a Conversation on International Affairs. Our guest today is Desmond Ball, Senior Fellow at the Strategic and Defense Studies Center at the Australian National University in Canberra. Dr. Ball's numerous publications include Politics and Force Levels: The Strategic Missile Program of the Kennedy Administration, published by UC Press, and most recently, a Delphi Paper, No. 169, published by the Institute of Strategic Studies in London, entitled, "Can Nuclear War be Controlled?" Joining us for our discussion today is Dr. Gene Rochlin, a Lecturer in the Energy and Resources Group at UC Berkeley.

1. Conducting a Nuclear War ... command and control vulnerabilities ... scenarios for onset of nuclear war
2. U.S. Capabilities and Vulnerabilities ... submarines ... land-based missiles: the MX ... smaller land-based systems ... first-strike capability
3. Soviet Capabilities and Vulnerabilities ... unreliable technology ... crews ... more technical problems ... understanding the true balance of firepower
4. Stopping the Arms Race0 ... educating the public ... allowing leeway ... political relations ... misrepresentation by U.S. politicians ... Soviet failures in arms control ... factoring in the British and French capabilities ... U.S. - Soviet communication ... the peace movement

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