Book Review: Kill and Overkill
| Published date | 01 March 1963 |
| Author | H. Paul Simon |
| Date | 01 March 1963 |
| DOI | 10.1177/002070206301800114 |
| Subject Matter | Book Review |
100
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL
he
believes
it
to
be,
that
they
have
nothing
to
fear
from
our
strength.
If
this
is
not
so
clear to
them
they
will
seek
by
every means
at
hand
to
redress
an
unfavourable
balance.
It
seems
most
probable
that
this was
an important
factor
in
their
decision
to
embark
on
their
recent
perilous
adventure
in
Cuba.
Are
we
to
suppose
that
the
Russian
move
with
missiles
and
bombers
into
Cuba
was
of
the
character
that
Dr.
Teller
describes;
"dedicated
to
the
single
goal
of
world
domination"?
Or
was
it,
as Hanson
Baldwin,
Defence
Correspondent of
the
New York
Times
described
it
(October
28,
1962),
a
"neutralising and
compensatory
factor
to
our
vast
inter-
continental
nuclear
delivery
superiority"?
The
only
hope
for
our
world
lies in
the
recognition
of
mutual
interests;
mutual
interest
in
avoiding
nuclear
war,
mutual interest
in
prosperity,
mutual
interest
in
social
justice,
even
a
mutual
interest
in
exploration and
in
truth.
Nor
is
it
enough
that
we
learn
these
lessons,
we
must
also
learn
(and
this
is
harder)
that
our opponents
have
learnt
them. Without
a
courageous
effort
of
understanding
on
the
part
of
the
leaders
of
opinion
in
East
and
in West,
this
recognition
of
mutual
interest
will
never
come
about.
It
may,
of
course,
not
come
about
in
time,
in
any
case.
But
if
we
fail
to
strive
for it
we
shall
bear
a
heavy
load
of
guilt.
University
of Toronto
JOHN
C.
POLANYI
KILL
AND
OVERKILL.
The
Strategy
of
Annihilation.
By
Ralph
FE
Lapp.
1962.
(New
York: Basic
Books.
Toronto:
General
Publishing.
197pp.
$6.25.)
Dr. Lapp,
an eminent nuclear
physicist,
has
long
believed
It
to
be
"imperative
that
every
citizen
understand
the
true
nature
of
the
danger
and
the
forces we
must
control".
His
latest
book,
"Kill
and
Overkill",
deals
with
nuclear
strategy
in
a
broad
sense.
It
was
written
"to
enable
all
Americans
to
participate
in
the
discussion
and
national
decisions
on
nuclear
policy."
For
intcrcsted
Canadians,
it
is
an
indis-
pensable
timely,
and
clearly
written
aid
in
forming
judgements
on
issues
of
defence
policy,
arms
control
and disarmament.
Dr.
Lapp
discusses
the
various
types
of
nuclear
bombs
and
weapons
systems;
the
size
of
their
stockpiles;
the
effects
of
blast,
fire
and
fallout;
the
failure
of
deterrence
policy
to
prevent
an
intensified
arms race,
or
to
provide
a
measure
of
stability.
Of
particular
concern
to Canadian
readers
including,
one would
hope,
all
political leaders
will
be
the
chapters
on
the
nature
and
effects
of
nuclear
war;
the
possibilities
of defence;
and
the
chances
of
accident,
miscalculation
or
madness.
Dr.
Lapp contributes
important
information
on
the untested theory
of
nuclear
"cooking"
of
an enemy
warhead in
a
context
of
anti-ICBM
defence,
and
on
the
risk
to the
defender himself,
of
using
megaton
warheads
in
defence.
Important
also,
in
view
of
constant
patrol
flights
over Canada
by
SAC
planes
carrying
multi-megaton
bombs,
are
Dr.
Lapp's
remarks
on
the
reli-
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