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would be effective against attack by guided missiles coming
in at supersonic speeds.
3.
The Contrasts in the Target Systems
The industrial target system of the U. S. has structural
characteristics that make it particularly vulnerable to heavy atomic
attack. Furthermore, practically all the information needed by
Soviet target analysts in planning an attack has been readily avail-
able in available and open sources. Even the location of atomic
energy and other newer and vital facilities could not have been con- -
cealed from communist agents. It has been estimated that effective
atomic attack on only 19 major U. S. industrial centers would
destroy or critically damage one-half of our basic war supporting
capability. There would seem to be no question that these facts are
as well known in Moscow as they are in Washington.
In contrast, the Soviet target system is made up of a larger
number of smaller industrial concentrations. Nuclear weapons
lend themselves to the massive, brief assault required for a decisive,
single blow. The Soviet target system, as compared with that of
the U. S. , is less vulnerable to attack that relies heavily on mass
effect; and it requires greater strategic selectivity. Of the two
efforts for a decisive blow, the one on the U. S. S. R. would have to
be more carefully planned (despite our limited information), and
would require a greater aerial effort. Offsetting these disad-
vantages from the U. S. point of view, may be the higher criticality
of individual Soviet industrial facilities as compared with the
larger and stronger structure of American industry. It must be
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