Nuclear knowledge

Peter Villiers

It was recently suggested in the Times lEducational Supplement that there should be an '0' level examination on nuclear weapons. Since many people find the arguments and weapons of the nuclear age thoroughly confusing, this multiple- choice questionnaire is designed to exploit that confusion, perhaps providing a model for the examiners.

NUCLEAR WAR — '0' LEVEL Instructions Read each question carefully. Consider the possible answers, and choose the one you think least inaccurate. Write on one side of the paper only.

Questions

1. If NATO proceeds to instal Cruise and Pershing II in Western Europe, the Rus- sians will: (a) Accept the new weapons as invinci- ble.

(b) Recognise NATO's decision as a defensive ploy and agree to negotiate on their SS20s.

(c) Brand NATO's decision as hostile and refuse to remove a single SS20.

(d) Build their own Cruise missiles. 2. If the Warsaw Pact invades West Ger- many using conventional forces, and cannot be stopped, then NATO will: (a) Fire a nuclear 'warning shot'.

(b) Counter-attack within Europe using short range 'tactical' nuclear weapons.

(c) Counter-attack against the Soviet Union itself using intermediate nuclear weapons such as Cruise or Pershing.

(d) Counter-attack the Soviet Union with intercontinental ballistic missiles.

(e) Surrender.

3. If NATO responds by nuclear means to a Russian conventional attack, the Rus- sians will: (a) Recognise that their bluff has been called, and retreat.

(b) Use nuclear weapons themselves, to the same level as NATO.

(c) Attack NATO by every possible means.

4. The object of the current doctrine of nuclear deterrence is to: Maximise certainty and security in the world.

Give everyone an opportunity to share in the feeling of guilt.

Increase the likelihood of an ac- cidental nuclear war.

Obliterate the likelihood of an ac- cidental nuclear war.

Obliterate the distinction between peace and war.

Maximise uncertainty and insecurity in the world.

5. It is to the general advantage of the superpowers to: (a) Continue the arms race.

(b) Agree to arms limitations.

(c) Achieve mutual balanced force reductions.

(d) Disarm.

6. The USSR's politico-military ambitions are: (a) To conquer Western Europe at the first opportunity.

(b) To foster independence amongst its satellite powers.

(c) To maintain the current geopolitical boundaries in Europe.

7. The USA would prefer to fight the next war: (a) On a global scale.

(b) On its own territory.

(c) In Europe.

(d) Not at all. 8. The object of the arms race is to: (a) Equal one's opponent militarily.

(b) Outstrip one's opponent militarily.

(c) Provide work.

(d) Explore the limits of technology.

(e) Bankrupt the economy.

(f) Avoid helping the third world.

9. 'We shall fight by conventional means until we are losing; then we shall fight by limited nuclear means until we are los- ing; then we shall blow up the world.' This represents a description of: (i) The 'flexible response' doctrine of NATO.

(ii) The logic of deterrence.

(iii) Christian ethics in a fallen world.

(iv) Insanity, l0.The Cruise Missile is claimed to be highly accurate because of its TERCOM (Terrain Contour Matching) naviga- tional guidance system. To defeat this the Russians will: (a) Relocate their cities so that current maps are inaccurate.

(b) Build artificial mountains.

(c) Cover the Soviet Union in foam.

(d) Rely on snow.

I I.The 'Dual key' control system proposed for the Cruise Missile means that: (a) Great Britain will have an effective veto on its use.

(b) Great Britain will have an effective veto on its use and will have to pay £1000 million.

(e) Great Britain will not have an effec- tive veto on its use and will have to pay £1000 million.

(d) Great Britain will have to pay £1000 million.

12.A civilised country: (a) Possesses nuclear weapons.

(b) Possesses nuclear weapons but re- nounces first use.

(c) Allows another country to provide its nuclear defence.

(d) Renounces nuclear weaponry altogether.

13.The women of Greenham Common are: (a) Soviet agents.

(b) Lesbian rent-a-crowd subversive agitators who are neglecting their historical role as wives and mothers.

(c) Misguided idealists. (d) The only sane people in Great Bri- tain at present.

14. Which of the following works is most relevant to the current situation, judged by title alone:

(a) What Is To Be Done? (Lenin) (b) Far Away And Long Ago (Hudson) (c) Why Don't We Learn From History? (Hart) 15.The object of the current arms negotia- tions in Geneva is to:

(a) Achieve disarmament by the super- powers. (b) Provide a cover under which the arms race can proceed undisturbed.

(c) Set arms limits which neither side has reached yet, so that they can continue to build weapons to fulfil] their quotas.

16.The role of the British independent nuclear deterrent is: (a) To provide an opportunity for Great Britain to start World War Three.

(b) To deter a nuclear attack aimed at Great Britain alone.

(c) To occupy the Royal Navy.

(d) Unclear.

17.The average Russian is: (a) A power-crazed psychopath.

(b) A fanatical communist.

(c) Totally controlled by the most ruthless and secretive totalitarian dictatorship the world has ever known.

(d) Not wholly dissimilar to the average westerner.

18.The aim of declaring a city to be a nuclear-free zone is to: Demonstrate abhorrence for nuclear war and weapons by the nearest means at hand.

Give the occupants of the zone a justified feeling of security.

Miraculously protect a certain pro- portion of the population from the effects of fall-out.

Give the occupants of the zone a wholly unwarranted feeling of security.

19.Nuclear disarmament by Great Britain alone would:

(a) Be recognised as a constructive gesture by other countries, who would follow suit.

(b) Be recognised as a constructive gesture by other countries, who would not follow suit.

(c) Lead to the conquest of Great Bri- (d) Dissolve NATO. tain by nuclear blackmail.

(e) Have no appreciable effect.

20.NATO claims that it is prepared to reduce Cruise in response to reductions in the Russian SS20. This is an example of: (a) Inspired statesmanship.

(b) Nuclear realpolitik.

(c) Logical fallacy. (d) 1983 Newspeak.

21.The object of this questionnaire is to:

(a) Show the cleverness of its composer. (b) Help parents to understand what modern examinations are like. (c) Confuse the average person even more about nuclear issues. (d) Stimulate its readers to think a little harder about the issues involved.

Answers There are no answers.