unacceltable levels of damage. \1?. Another elenent to be taken into account is the vulnerability to destruction of the conmrmications systems wtlich supporb the strategic weapons and provide fJ-exibility to adopt various postules. Destruction of these support systens vould put into question lhe concept of controlLed nuclear exchange and seriously undermine the cor.lrterforce capability of a super-Power. )+18. A super-Por,rer may consider the capacity to make a controlled o" linitetl res?onse to have certain benefits in times of crisis. It couJ-d provide the opportunity to give a measured response to a linited or accidentaf attack 'lrithout automatic escafatio[ to a fu1l and. devastating response. on the othe" hand' crisis management nay become more d.ifficult. If, e.g., each supef-Power woul"d acquire the capability to destroy the fixed land.-based nissile forces of the other side by expending only a pottion of its or,"n land-based. rnissiles, deterrence based on second st;ike might be undernined, Retaliation to an attack on the lantl-based force would in turn invite a fijrther response inflicting unacceptable levels of da&age 'Al 35 / 392 nnglish -fu1nex Page 131 419. The banier against nuclear war is strongest when the thaeshold to be crossedin initiating a nuclear exchange is very vetl defined. Adoption by the super-porn'ersof a witier range of strategies providing for controLJ.ed response and lirnited strikescould tlrus leaal to an erosion of the nucl-ear threshold., The assumption r.rnderlyingthese strategies is tlat a nuclear exchange can take place ithout the certainty ofescal-ation' Anothe" irnportant technological- d.evelopnent has been the emergence of systens. which can perforrn both strategie and theatre roles (so-ca1led "gray area,' systems ). One consequence of thei.r deployment could be to blur distinction betueentheatre and. strategic use of nuclear weaBons.
**Analysis**
The text appears to be discussing the strategic implications of nuclear weapons and their potential impact on crisis management and deterrence. It mentions the vulnerability of communication systems and the concept of controlled response, which suggests a focus on military strategy and technology.

**Category**
Science and technology, International relations