NSC Document 68
What triggered this review of USA's policy and strategic objectives and priorities? -
answer USSR getting the atomic bomb in September 1949 and the loss of China to
Communists
What is the NSC Document 68? - answer The 68th National Security Council Resolution
Who was the discussion document commissioned by and when? - answer Truman
asked the National Security Council to produce the report and the discussion document
was commissioned by Truman in 1949-1950
What was the NSC Document 68's conception of Soviet aims? - answer “The complete
subversion or forcible destruction of the machinery of movement and structure of
society in the countries of the non-Soviet world and their replacement by an apparatus
and structure subservient to and controlled from the Kremlin"
- USSR was aiming for world conquest and wanted to rid the world of anything non-
communist
What was USA's response to their perception that USSR was aiming for world
conquest? - answer"Thus we must make ourselves strong"
What did the NSC Document 68's say must now be the role of military power? -
answer"To serve the national purpose by deterring an attack upon us while we seek by
other means to create an environment in which our free society can flourish, and by
fighting, if necessary, to defend the integrity and vitality of our free society and to defeat
any aggressor"
- USA should ensure non-communist regimes were viable as alternatives to
communism and should take military measures to meet the threat of communism
What view did the NSC Document 68 have of the world? - answerBipolar world view-
division of world into 2 superpowers in conflict
What view did the NSC Document 68 have of communism? - answerMonolithic view of
communism- all communist activity everywhere could be traced back to Moscow
What did the NSC Document 68 say USA must do in terms of military? - answerBuild up
both conventional and nuclear weapons to use to contain communism and be ready to
engage in limited wars
What is a limited war? Why did the document say USA must be ready to engage in
one? - answerUsing conventional weapons to limit expansion of war. USA must do this
to prevent the spread of communism and stop communist groups taking over free
countries
What triggered this review of USA's policy and strategic objectives and priorities? -
answer USSR getting the atomic bomb in September 1949 and the loss of China to
Communists
What is the NSC Document 68? - answer The 68th National Security Council Resolution
Who was the discussion document commissioned by and when? - answer Truman
asked the National Security Council to produce the report and the discussion document
was commissioned by Truman in 1949-1950
What was the NSC Document 68's conception of Soviet aims? - answer “The complete
subversion or forcible destruction of the machinery of movement and structure of
society in the countries of the non-Soviet world and their replacement by an apparatus
and structure subservient to and controlled from the Kremlin"
- USSR was aiming for world conquest and wanted to rid the world of anything non-
communist
What was USA's response to their perception that USSR was aiming for world
conquest? - answer"Thus we must make ourselves strong"
What did the NSC Document 68's say must now be the role of military power? -
answer"To serve the national purpose by deterring an attack upon us while we seek by
other means to create an environment in which our free society can flourish, and by
fighting, if necessary, to defend the integrity and vitality of our free society and to defeat
any aggressor"
- USA should ensure non-communist regimes were viable as alternatives to
communism and should take military measures to meet the threat of communism
What view did the NSC Document 68 have of the world? - answerBipolar world view-
division of world into 2 superpowers in conflict
What view did the NSC Document 68 have of communism? - answerMonolithic view of
communism- all communist activity everywhere could be traced back to Moscow
What did the NSC Document 68 say USA must do in terms of military? - answerBuild up
both conventional and nuclear weapons to use to contain communism and be ready to
engage in limited wars
What is a limited war? Why did the document say USA must be ready to engage in
one? - answerUsing conventional weapons to limit expansion of war. USA must do this
to prevent the spread of communism and stop communist groups taking over free
countries
