St. Joseph Church
Bristol, Connecticut

Deacon Robert M. Pallotti
Pastoral Minister

anti-ballistic missile (ABM) system A defense system to intercept strategic ballistic missiles in flight.

anti-satellite weapon (ASAT) A system designed to destroy or disable enemy satellites in orbit.

anti-submarine warfare (ASW) The detection, identification, tracking, and destruction of enemy submarines. ASW can be either strategic (aimed at neutralizing an opponent's ballistic missile submarines), or tactical aimed at defending convoys, aircraft carriers, or other naval targets from an opponent's attack submarines.

Arms Control and Disarmament Agency The independent US agency that deals with arms control matters.

ballistic missile A missile that is lifted into space by a booster rocket and then descends toward its target in a free-falling trajectory.

"bolt from the blue" attack An all-out surprise attack during a period of low tension. The goal of such an attack would presumably be to destroy enough of the opponent's military capability to ensure victory.

bomber An aircraft capable of delivering nuclear and /or non-nuclear ordnance. Long-range bombers are those capable of traveling 6,000 or more miles on one load of fuel; medium-range bombers can travel between 3,500 and 6,000 miles without refueling.

breakout A sudden abrogation or massive violation of an arms control treaty through the extensive deployment of weapons designed to alter the military balance.

catalytic war Type of nuclear war in which a third country deliberately triggers war between the superpowers.

circular error probable (CEP) A measure of missile accuracy. A missile's CEP is the radius of a circle around the target in which 50 percent of the warheads aimed at the target will land.

command, control, communication, and intelligence (C3I) The information-processing systems used to detect, assess and respond to actual and potential military and political crisis or conflicts. C3I includes systems which transmit commands and manage material and manpower during crisis or conflicts, as well as in peacetime.

confidence-building measures (CBMs) Negotiated or unilateral measures taken to increase "transparency" and demonstrate a nation's lack of belligerent or hostile intent, as distinguished from measures which actually reduce military capabilities.

counterforce Military strategies, attacks, or weapons directed against an opponent's military forces, command posts, and other war-fighting targets.

contervalue Military strategies, attacks, or weapons directed against an opponent's population, society and economy.

crisis stability A situation in which incentives are minimal to launch a strategic nuclear attack during a crisis.

cruise missile A pilotless, jet propelled guided missile. Cruise missiles may be armed with conventional or nuclear warheads and launched from an aircraft(ALCM), a submarine(SLCM), or a land-based platform(GLCM).

declaratory policy The stated nuclear weapons policy of a country, as distinguished from "targeting" policy, how the weapons would actually be used, or "procurement policy" determining the actual structure of nuclear forces. This can be different from "operational policy" which is how the forces are structured and how they would be used under crisis and war conditions.

delivery vehicle A device, whether a ballistic or cruise missile or bomber, which carries one or more warheads through its flight.

deterrence Dissuasion of a potential adversary from initiating an attack or conflict by the threat of retaliation. There is deterrence by "punishment" that deters attack by inflicting unacceptable damage on an adversary. There is deterrence by "denial" that prevents an opponent from gaining political and military objectives that would give rationale for initiating war.

electromagnetic pulse (EMP) A sharp burst of electromagnetic energy produced by a nuclear explosion. The resulting electric and magnetic fields may cause damage to unprotected electrical and electronic equipment at great distance.

escalation A shift in a conflict to an increased level of violence or a broader geographic area. In discussions of nuclear weapons, escalation implies an increase in the strategic significance of the weapons employed, for example, from conventional forces to tactical nuclear weapons to strategic missiles and bombers.

escalation dominance The capability of one nation to control and dominant each rung of the "escalation ladder". That is, one nation's military capability and force structure allow it to threaten greater military action on a level of violence that they could control and prevail in due to the force structure of their military systems.

fallout The spread of radioactive particles from clouds of debris produced by nuclear blasts. "Local fallout" falls to the earth's surface within twenty-four hours of the blast. "Delayed fallout" may take years to return to earth.

first strike A surprise attack on an opponent's nuclear forces in an attempt to destroy his retaliatory capability.

first use The introduction of nuclear weapons into a conflict at any level. A "no-first-use" pledge by a nation obliges it not to be the first to use nuclear weapons.

fission The process of splitting atomic nuclei, stimulated by the bombardment of the nuclei with neutrons. The process yields vast amounts of energy and more neutrons capable of splitting other atoms.

fusion The process of combining atomic nuclei with the release of large amounts of energy.

hardened target A target protected against the blast, heat, and radiation effects of nuclear weapons of specific yields. Hardening is usually measured by the number of pounds per square inch (psi) of blast overpressure which a target can withstand.

hard target kill capability The capacity of a weapons system, related to its accuracy and yield, to destroy a hardened target such as a missile silo.

intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) A ballistic missile with a range of 5,500 kilometers or more. Conventionally, the term ICBM is used only for land-based systems, in order to differentiate them from submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), which can also be of intercontinental range.

kiloton(kt) A measure of the yield of a nuclear weapon, equivalent to 1,000 tons of TNT.

launch on warning (LOW) The act of launching retaliatory strategic missiles and /or bombers on receipt of warning that an opponent had launched an attack.

launch under attack (LUA) The act of launching retaliatory strategic missiles and/or bombers on confirmation that a nuclear attack has occurred. Confirmation involves the determination that at least one nuclear weapon has detonated on the nation's territory.

maneuvering reentry vehicle (MaRV) A ballistic missile reentry vehicle (warhead) that can alter its trajectory during flight.

massive retaliation Nuclear doctrine formulated in the Eisenhower administration which emphasized countering any type of aggression with a massive nuclear response.

missile experimental (MX) A U.S. ICBM, now called the Peacekeeper, which has 10 highly accurate MIRVed warheads. It is now deployed in silos.

multiple independently targetable re-entry vehicle (MIRV) A package of two or more warheads which can be carried by a single ballistic missile but are deliverable to separate targets.

mutual assured destruction (MAD) The present situation in which the superpowers have the ability to inflict an unacceptable degree of damage upon each other even after absorbing a first strike; a condition which deters both sides from inhibiting hostilities.

national technical means (NTM) Intelligence gathering systems under national control, such as photo reconnaissance satellites and ground based radars, used to monitor compliance with agreed arms limitations and reductions.

Nuclear Risk Reduction Centers (NRRCs) Centers in the U.S. and Russia, agreed to in 1987, to facilitate information exchange relating to current and future arms control treaties and to missile tests, naval maneuvers, and other military activities.

nuclear weapons-free zone An area in which the production, deployment, and possibly passage of nuclear weapons is prohibited.

nuclear winter A potential consequence of nuclear war, where smoke from burning urban areas would cause a severe worldwide drop in temperature, lasting for weeks and months with large scale ecological impacts.

parity a balance of forces where the overall capabilities of opposing nations are roughly equivalent.

Permissive Action Link (PAL) Locks which prevent a nuclear weapon from being used without proper authorization.

plutonium An extremely toxic chemical element which is radioactive, and is capable of releasing tremendous quantities of energy by undergoing nuclear fission. Plutonium is not found in nature, but is created as a waste product of nuclear reactors.

precision-guided munition (PGM) Also known as a "smart weapon," PGMs contain sensors and guidance systems which allow them to home in on targets.

preemptive attack A damage-limiting attack launched against an opponent's forces in anticipation of an attack.

proliferation The spread of nuclear weapons to states not previously possessing them. Sometimes referred to as "horizontal" proliferation to distinguish it from "vertical" proliferation in an existing weapons state--building more nuclear weapons.

qualitative limitations and reductions The limiting and reduction of those weapons systems that are the most lethal and modern in an effort to help bring about crisis stability.

quantitative limitations and reductions Limits and reductions on the number of systems in various categories.

single integrated operational plan (SIOP) United States targeting and strike plan for waging nuclear war with Russia and/or other nations.

stealth technology A combination of structural design and utilization of special materials to shield aircraft and missiles from detection by an adversary's radar detection systems.

stockpile The total supply of weapons, including those currently deployed and in storage.

Strategic Arms Reduction Talks (START) Negotiations between the U.S. and Russia, initiated in June 1982, to seek reductions in the strategic offensive arsenals of both sides.

Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) Program, initiated by President Reagan in 1983, to develop an advanced ballistic missile defense.

tactical Relating to battlefield operations as distinguished from theater or strategic operations. Tactical weapons or forces are those designed for combat with opposing military forces rather than for striking an opponent's homeland.

thermonuclear bomb A nuclear weapon that derives a significant fraction of energy from a fusion reaction.

triad The traditional nomenclature for the three components of U.S. and Russian strategic nuclear forces--land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles; submarine launched ballistic missiles; and strategic bombers.

verification Monitoring the party to a treaty's compliance with treaty provisions, either by national technical means and/or on-site inspection and other cooperative measures.

yield The force of a nuclear explosion, frequently expressed as the equivalent of energy produced by tons of TNT.

aggressive war A war waged for national, or personal aggrandizement. Such wars can originate in the desire for revenge, to reshape the balance of power, for material wealth, for punishment, and for expanding borders. It can also occur if one nation believes another will attack first.

carrying capacity The limit of the earth to maintain life as population, resource exploitation and general environmental pressures originating from human behavior impact.

civilian based defense The development of non-nuclear and/or nonviolent strategies for national defense. Often association with Gene Sharp.

civil disobedience The breaking of laws by those bound by their conscience to do so. For some Catholic and/or theistic practitioners the preferred term is divine obedience.

co-creation The human relationship with the Lord and others that emphasizes that human beings are in covenant with the Lord and others to help shape a world that is more just and peaceful.

compassion The Christian style of living patterned on Jesus Christ. It means to suffer with. This compassion manifests itself in identifying with the suffering of the world in a preferential option for the poor and the destruction of the environment.

conscientious objection Is the moral option that reject one's own participation in war. The Catholic Church affirmed this as a legitimate option for Roman Catholics in The Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World.

conversion Metanoia, a change of heart called for by the prophets of the Hebrew Scriptures and the Lord Jesus Christ. For Christians it means following the way of Jesus Christ in a concrete praxis of compassion, justice and peace.

defensive war A war fought only to defend innocents or to establish and/or maintain justice and human rights.

deterrence Preventing another from taking some action because of the fear of the consequences (punishment) , or the realization that any action would result in a denial of any benefit from the action. For Catholics nuclear deterrence is only provisionally accepted by the U.S. Catholic Bishops so long as real and timely progress is being made toward nuclear disarmament.

discrimination As this term refers to war it refers to the prohibition to targeting civilians in conventional and nuclear warfare.

eschatological proviso Is that understanding in the Christian tradition whereby the Kingdom of God is present, yet still to come in its fullness. Whatever we know about God, human beings etc... is only provisional until the Kingdom comes in its fullness. Yet action for justice and peace based on the love of Jesus Christ helps to co-create with God and others a world where the Kingdom is more readily seen and anticipated. Christian action is based on the realization that God's Kingdom will despite the failures of history and compels us to hope that is made concrete in action, the praxis of the Kingdom.

Gaudium et Spes The Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, 1965. This document from the Second Vatican Council 1962-65, gave direction to Catholic mission in the world in the light of the signs of the times.

jus ad Bellum The moral requirements that must be satisfied for a Christian to participate in war.

jus in Bello The requirements in war that restrict the level of violence to only those methods that can secure justice and peace with a minimum use of force.

justice The virtue of righteousness grounded in the justice of God that affirms the dignity of every human person and help to create of society that affirms, respects and nurtures human dignity and the environment.

just cause Any initiation of war must be based on clear evidence that it would secure or maintain peace and justice.

just war This second option for Catholics in regards to war states that certain conditions must be fulfilled before a Christian can participate in war.

last resort War can only be initiated after all other means of resolving conflict have been exhausted.

legitimate authority A war may only be declared by the head of state that is recognized as the legitimate authority.

limited conscientious objection The condition in which a person may be recognized as a conscientious objector because the character of a certain war in judged immoral by the person. For instance, a Roman Catholic in a missile silo may object to turning his launch key and participating in nuclear war.

nonviolent resistance A spirituality and praxis that employs nonviolent techniques to actively resist evil and injustice.

pacifism The belief that war and violence of all kinds are morally wrong. Pacifism rejects the just war and war in general. Catholic pacifism bases its position of the nonviolent Christ.

policy options The U.S. Catholic Bishops in, The Challenge of Peace, 1983, noted that while there are moral principles binding on all Catholics regarding war, policy options to address the moral question of war are open to debate and discussion.

praxis Christian action, reflection and action based on the response of discipleship that all Christian are called to by Jesus Christ. It is sacramental faith, that is, it is concerned with incarnating the Gospel in the light of the signs of the times.

presumption against violence In both the pacifist and the just war option there is a presumption against war and violence. Neither option is meant to be an excuse for war.

proportionality The moral requirement that any violence to be used in war must be able to demonstrate that a real and bountiful good will result. It also refers to the active use of force in war that must be proportional to the ends of justice and peace. Force must not be excessive.

References

Political and Military Definitions

Catholic Moral Terms for Peacemaking

Compiled by Deacon Robert M. Pallotti, D. Min.
Created 8/14/1998