McNair Paper 45 Contents

Institute for National Strategic Studies


McNair Paper Number 45, Contents, October 1995

Deterrence Theory: Success or Failure in Arab-Israeli Wars?

Elli Lieberman

NATIONAL DEFENSE UNIVERSITY

McNair Paper 45

October 1995


INTRODUCTION

1. "DESIGNING AROUND" I: THE "WAR OF ATTRITION," SUCCESS OR FAILURE?

Balance of Interests

Competing Hypotheses

Egypt's and Israel's Interests During the War of Attrition

Egypt's and Israel's Strategies and Secondary Interests

Egypt's Perception of Israel's Strategic and Reputational Interests

The Balance of Capability

Competing Hypotheses

Stein's Critique of Egypt's Strategy

The Balance of Capability in the War of Attrition

Israel's Use of Its Air Force

The Relationship Between Strategy and Objectives in Egypt's Strategy

The Role of Opportunity in Egypt's Decisions to Challenge

Reputations

Why did Egypt Challenge Despite Israel's Reputation for Brinkmanship?

Did Egypt Miscalculate Israel's Capacity for Endurance?

Recreating Reputation-for-Capability in the War of Attrition

The Competition of General Reputations with Other Interests

Crisis Bargaining Behavior

Competing Hypotheses

Why Were Costly Signals Uninformative?

The Failure of Reassurance to Produce Deterrence Stability

Conclusion: "Designing Around," Success or Failure?

2. "DESIGNING AROUND" II: THE YOM KIPPUR WAR, SUCCESS OR FAILURE?

Egypt's Goals and Strategy

Stein's Critique

The Balance of Capability

Crisis Bargaining Behavior

Success or Failure

3. CONCLUSION

NOTES

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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