arsenals. hhln there is an increase in the level of destruction which a super-power car] threaten to inflict on a mediutr-Ievel nuclear Power in retaJ-iation for an attack, the credibility of the d.etertent of that medium-level Power nay dininish, unless it al-so roakes the expensive effort to boost the destructil'e capability of its forces. on the other hand, numerical increases in strategic nuclear lteapons are not likely to altel' the bearing on the nationaf security of non-nuclear-weapon States which strategic nuclear lleaPons already have ' 5ol It has often been stated that the optimum nrmber of lteapons delivered againlT soft targets ( civilian centres and industria"l complexes ) to provade a threat of aasured destruction is around l+00. fhe figure is a function of the mass destruction capability of the w.eapons 8nd the linited number of large popul-ation centres and industlial complexes in the advers ary State'A/ 3' / 392 English Annex Page 12! l+o8. rrre super-Porers have, for many years, attained. the cspability of inflictingunacceptable l-evels of destruction on each othe}. The basic strateeic concern thenhas been whether one side night acquire the fo"ces to deny the othe; thiscapability. ft remains the fundanental question still today. l+09. There are two vays in vhich the capabiLity to cause unacceptable destructionnay be affected. (so lcng as nucleax weapons continue to exist). First. theae is thepossibility of establishing ar effective defensive system, preventing an attackingfoxce from reaching its targets (civilian and nilitary). secondly, a capacity naybe achieved to und.ertake a pre-errptive strike which woul.d destroy the nuclear forceof the other sid.e. These possibitities wilr be coneidered in the paragraphs befow,
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing the strategic implications of nuclear weapons and the potential for their use in conflict. The language used is technical and focused on the capabilities and limitations of nuclear forces, suggesting that the topic is related to defense and security.

**Category**
Science and technology, International relations