二戰后,美國將蘇聯視為最大的威脅,試圖在壟斷核武器和享有絕對核優勢時對蘇聯發動預防性戰爭,并為此制定了一系列計劃。核武器不僅是美國對蘇政策的重要工具,也是美國維護國家安全的重器。美國政府之所以沒有貿然行動,是國際和國內各種因素共同作用的結果,并且在很大程度上是基于對蘇聯實力的忌憚以及可能產生的后果的考慮。美國深知,采取這一冒險行動無疑要付出極其高昂的代價,不僅會失去西歐,而且美國本土也將遭受沉重打擊,結局難以預料。鑒于此,美國政府制訂的對蘇核打擊計劃終成紙上談兵。

After the World War II, the US, having a monopoly on nuclear weapons and absolute nuclear superiority, not only used this advantage as an important tool of its policy toward the USSR but also made it a key to safeguarding national security. Regarding the USSR as its biggest threat, it had also attempted to initiate a preventive war against the USSR and had formulated a series of plans for this end. But these plans were not implemented due to both international and domestic factors. To be exact, America dreaded the emergence of possible consequences because the Soviet Union had the strength and capability to revenge. The US leaders were fully aware that such a risky and costly nuclear strike was likely to cause the Soviet Union not only to wage a devastating attack on Western Europe, but also to deal a heavy blow to the US itself, thus resulting in an unaff ordable ending. Therefore, the United States fi nally aborted this attempt.