This study is a continuation of Cimbala's work on nuclear weapons, strategy, and arms control with a focus on the use of nuclear weapons as military strategy. A second aspect of the approach her is that with the demise of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War, the US policy makers and military planners shifted their focus away from the possibility of major war in Europe. In the aftermath of 9/11, focus sharpened to Afghanistan and Iraq, pushing the thought of war in Europe onto the back burner. But recent events have offered painful reminders that peace and security in Europe cannot be taken for granted, and that whether any particular state of terrorist group can be deterred from nuclear acquisition or use is very circumstantial. -- Adapted from the author's introduction.

Geography and nuclear arms control -- Anticipatory attacks and nuclear weapons : challenges to deterrence and crisis stability -- Nuclear crisis management in a digital age -- Ending a nuclear war : deterring and controlling escalation -- Cyber war and nuclear weapons -- Tsar wars and star wars : missile defense, nuclear arms control and Putin -- Nuclear weapons in Asia : perils and promises -- Nuclear proliferation : theory and reality -- Deterrence and intelligence in nuclear history : the 1983 "war scare" -- Armed persuasion and arms control : Vladimir Putin in Ukraine, February 21-March 18, 2014.