I am referring specifically to Nixon’s decision to go to DEFCON 3, which was about deterring the Soviets from intervening. I am aware that Israel threatened to use nuclear weapons against the Egyptians and Syrians in order to obtain US aid.
Of course, we must ask why did Israel’s nuclear saber-rattling work on the United States, but not Syria or Egypt?
I would say that it didn’t work on the Arabs for the following reasons:
- Arab aims were actually rather limited (reconquest of Golan and Sinai)
- Israel being unable to detonate a weapon on the battlefield without inflicting damage to Israelis and Israel
- The expected outcry if Israel destroyed Cairo or Damascus
- Soviet guarantees of retaliation (see further down)
I understood that Israel was serious about using nuclear weapons given Dayan’s initial shock, and that the satellite reconnaissance only confirmed what Tel Aviv had communicated verbally to Washington.
Indeed. I also gather that the Soviets had deployed SSBNs to the area, nuclear-armed Scuds to Egypt and had a vessel carrying nuclear weapons docked in Egypt, all to dissuade the Israelis from either pressing their advantage too far and/or using nuclear weapons. The US certainly noticed the ship and the Scuds and would have kept the Israelis in the loop as well…
This is a very fun fact. Thanks for this.
Did it materially help the IDF?
Originally Posted by Azor
I am referring specifically to Nixon’s decision to go to DEFCON 3, which was about deterring the Soviets from intervening. I am aware that Israel threatened to use nuclear weapons against the Egyptians and Syrians in order to obtain US aid.
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