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Defense Policy: Nixon & Ford. 1969-1977. D é tente. Nixon & Kissinger take a different approach towards U.S. security policy: More flexible, less rigid regarding possible threats. Less ideological, more practical. Recognizes limits of U.S. power. Strategies of D é tente.
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Defense Policy: Nixon & Ford 1969-1977
Détente • Nixon & Kissinger take a different approach towards U.S. security policy: • More flexible, less rigid regarding possible threats. • Less ideological, more practical. • Recognizes limits of U.S. power.
Strategies of Détente • engage U.S.S.R. in negotiations • “linkage” • establish links to Communist China • reduce U.S. commitments abroad • demonstrate U.S. resolve to combat perceptions of weakness
Nixon Doctrine • The US would keep all of its treaty commitments. • US to “provide a shield if a nuclear power threatens” an ally or a nation vital to its security. • For other types of aggression, US to furnish aid if asked, in accordance with treaty commitments. • “But we shall look to the nation directly threatened to assume the primary responsibility of providing the manpower for its defense.”
Financial Impact of Vietnam • U.S. spent $150 billion on the war. • Defense budget reaches $74 billion in 1974. • But inflation dramatically eroded the purchasing power of the dollar: • In real terms, defense spending fell 37% between 1968 and 1974.
Congressional Reaction to Vietnam • Destroys bipartisan support for defense policy. • Congress moves to constrain executive authority: • War Powers Resolution (1973) • Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act (1974) • Places limits on covert operations (1974) and arms transfers (1974-76)
Chile, 1973 • Salvador Allende’s leftist government in Chile overthrown in a military coup. • Large outcry in U.S.
Soviet Defense Developments during Vietnam • Nuclear forces expanded and modernized. • ICBMs & SLBMs jump from less than 500 to about 2,400 missiles. • Soviet missiles improve in accuracy and weight-carrying capacity. • U.S.S.R. expands global naval capacity.
U.S. Nuclear Policy • Sought “strategic sufficiency.” • Continued work on new weapons, i.e. “MIRV”-able missiles. • Arms control negotiations with U.S.S.R.
Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT or SALT I), 1969-72 • Produced two treaties signed in May 1972: • ABM Treaty: limited each side to 2 ABM sites, no more than 100 missiles. • Interim Agreement: To last 5 years. • Froze number of ICBM’s and SLBM’s for each side • Allowed moving warheads from ICBM’s to SLBM within treaty limits. • Did not address SAC or MIRVs.
Arms control continued by Ford(& Brezhnev) • Vladivostok Accords, 1974: • Each side limited to 2,400 on delivery vehicles, with no more than 1,320 capable of carrying MIRVs. • Did not limit how many MIRVs could be carried on a given platform.
Problems for US conventional forces. • Reductions in troop levels. • Development of new weapons very costly. • Result: • Fewer new weapons • Less $ for operation, maintenance • Overall readiness and capabilities of U.S. military decline.
All Volunteer Force • 1972: draft ends • 1973: U.S. military switches to military establishment composes completely of volunteers: • Complicated by new compensation packages. • Initially, poor quality recruits. • Ongoing morale issues.
