CRITERIA FOR STRATEGIC SUFFICIENCY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-533-1-4-4
• Release Decision: RIFLIM
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: September 13, 2010
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: June 24, 1969
• Content Type: MEMO

No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/09/13: LOC-HAK-533-1-4-4
/ NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
WASHINGTON. D.C. 20506
June 24, 1969
TOP SECRET
National Security Decision Memorandum 16
TO: The Secretary of State
The Secretary of Defense
The Director of Central Intelligence
SUBJECT: Criteria for Strategic Sufficiency
Asa result of the June 18, 1969 National Security Council meeting,
the President has made the following decision:
For planning purposes, strategic sufficiency as far as nuclear
attacks on the United States are concerned should be defined
as follows:
ON-FILE NSC
RELEASE
INSTRUCTIONS
APPLY
1. Maintain high confidence that our second strike capability
is sufficient to deter an all-out surprise attack on our strategic
forces.
2. Maintain forces to insure that the Soviet Union would have
no incentive to strike the United States first in a crisis.
.3. Maintain the capability to deny to the Soviet Union the
ability to cause significantly more deaths and industrial damage
in the United States in a nuclear war than they themselves would
suffer.
4. Deploy defenses which limit damage from small attacks
or accidental launches to a low level.
Pending further studies, the President has directed that these
criteria be used by all agencies in considering issues relating to
the U. S. strategic posture.
cc: Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff
Director, Bureau of the Budget
Director, Arms Control and Disarmament Agency
Director, Office of Emergency Preparedness
Director, U. S. Information Agency
Director, Office of Science and Technology
No Objection to Declassification in Full 2010/09/13: LOC-HAK-533-1-4-4