United States Military Aviation - General & Miscellaneous, Military Intelligence, International Relations - General & Miscellaneous, Soviet History - Political Aspects, 20th Century American History - Cold War
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Overview
This book documents the role of imagery analysis in the Cold War and shows the reader how information derived from imagery came to influence U.S. policy. It focuses on America's efforts to assess the Soviet Union's strategic economic and military capabilities in the aftermath of World War II when American leaders realized the limits of their knowledge. Initial efforts to photograph U.S.S.R. territory from converted bombers proved both unsuccessful and highly provocative and prompted the United States to develop specialized reconnaissance systems. Beginning with the U-2 in the mid-1950s and continuing with a series of increasingly sophisticated imaging satellites, this study demonstrates how the United States eventually was able to accurately appraise the military forces of the Soviet Union.Author David Lindgren argues that these more accurate assessments helped stabilize relations between the two adversaries and the imaging systems' monitoring capabilities led directly to arms control and ultimately to arms reduction agreements. He concludes that imagery analysis not only played a critical role in resolving the Cold War but in preventing another Pearl Harbor. Everyone with an interest in foreign affairs, intelligence, the Cold War, and space applications will appreciate his arguments.
Book Details
Published
February 1, 2001
Publisher
Naval Institute Press
Pages
224
Format
Hardcover
ISBN
9781557505187