NATO'S CONVENTIONAL DOCTRINE: THE LIMITS OF TECHNOLOGICAL IMPROVEMENT

In: International journal / Canadian Institute of International Affairs, Band 61, Heft 1, S. 159-188

Abstract

IN 1982 GENERAL BERNARD W. ROGERS, THE SUPREME ALLIED COMMANDER OF EUROPE (SACEUR), PROPOSED A NEW APPROACH FOR THE ATLANTIC ALLIANCE. HE URGED THAT IT BEGIN TO MAKE USE OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES IN RECONNAISSANCE, TARGET ACQUISITION, AND INTERDICTION IN ORDER TO STRENGTHEN ITS DEFENCES. THE POTENTIAL CONTRIBUTION OF THESE NEW TECHNOLOGIES WAS EXPLORED IN THE REPORT OF THE EUROPEAN SECURITY STUDY GROUP (ESECS STUDY), WHICH ENTHUSIASTICALLY CONCLUDED THAT THEY HAD THE POTENTIAL TO REVOLUTIONIZE CONVENTIONAL WARFARE, STRENGTHEN THE CONVENTIONAL CAPABILITIES OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION (NATO) VIS-A-VIS THOSE OF THE WARSAW TREATY ORGANIZATION (WARSAW PACT), AND RAISE THE NUCLEAR THRESHOLD. THUS BEGAN AN IMPORTANT AND CONTINUING DISCUSSION WITHIN THE ALLIANCE ABOUT THE ROLE OF SOCALLED EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES OR ET IN NATO'S DEFENCE-A DEBATE THAT IS NOT YET OVER.