Security Without Nuclear Deterrence

The nuclear-armed states and their allies cite nuclear deterrence as the primary justification for maintaining nuclear weapons. Its fallacies must therefore be exposed and alternatives offered if they are to be eliminated. As a former operator of British nuclear weapons, Commander Green chronicles the history, practical difficulties and dangerous contradictions of nuclear deterrence. He offers instead more credible, effective and responsible alternative strategies to deter aggression and achieve real security. 'I commend this book to all who wish to gain a deeper understanding of nuclear deterrence, surely one of the most controversial ideas of our time.' H.E. Sergio Duarte, UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs 'Green's important book will doubtless cause perturbation amongst his former colleagues and in UK government and defence circles more widely, but they should read it carefully as they approach the decision point for the future of the UK's nuclear deterrent.' Vice Admiral Sir Jeremy Blackham KCB, RUSI Vice President 'One of the best informed and most searching critiques of the central strategic doctrine of the nuclear age - nuclear deterrence - that I know of.' Jonathan Schell, author of The Fate of the Earth, Yale University 'This is a book that shows courage, intelligence and moral integrity of a high order.' Professor Achin Vanaik, Delhi University 'A powerful tour de force of how the concepts and operations of nuclear doctrine and deterrence have shifted during the past six decades of the nuclear age.' Dr Rebecca Johnson, Director, Acronym Institute 'It is hard-won wisdom that today's nuclear armed states and those who would follow in their footsteps would do well to heed.' Dr Zia Mian, Princeton University 'The results of a personal odyssey of a British military officer through his experience and painstaking research should be widely supported by all those who share President Obama's bold vision of a nuclear weapon free world.' Jayantha Dhanapala, President of Pugwash

About the Author :
Commander Robert Green served for twenty years in the British Royal Navy from 1962-82. As a bombardier-navigator, he flew in Buccaneer nuclear strike aircraft and anti-submarine helicopters. On promotion to Commander in 1978, he worked in the Ministry of Defence before his final appointment as Staff Officer (Intelligence) to the Commander-in-Chief Fleet during the Falklands War. Commander Green chaired the UK affiliate of the World Court Project (1991-2004), an international citizen campaign which led to the International Court of Justice judgment in 1996 that threat or use of nuclear weapons would generally be illegal. From 1998-2002 he was Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee of the Middle Powers Initiative. Now Co-Director with his wife, Dr Kate Dewes ONZM, of the Disarmament & Security Centre in New Zealand, he is the author of The Naked Nuclear Emperor: Debunking Nuclear Deterrence, and Fast Track to Zero Nuclear Weapons: The Middle Powers Initiative. His latest book, A Thorn in Their Side: The Hilda Murrell Murder, was published in 2011.