3 In this particular case, the principles
which need to be addressed are the overriding principle of protection of society and the factors that must be given weight are
general deterrence, specific
deterrence, denunciation and rehabilitation.
Payne's book in a nutshell: 1) politicians and most senior officials operate with the belief that there is a dependable «rational» basis for successful
deterrence in
which «rational» US opponents will respond prudently and cautiously to US nuclear
deterrence threats; 2) the re-evaluation of nuclear strategy in expert circles since the Cold War exposes the deep flaws of Cold War thinking in
general and the concept of «rational»
deterrence in particular (partly because strategy was dangerously influenced by ideas about rationality from economics).