New evidence against the idea of a "nuclear taboo." Newly declassified documents show that Gen Westmoreland considered using nuclear weapons in Vietnam:https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/06/world/asia/vietnam-war-nuclear-weapons.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage …
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(I think the strongest evidence that Tannenwald has about a "taboo" existing comes from those who were at times pushing for nuclear use — their arguments were about the need to eliminate the "taboo," to make these things "thinkable." Why need to do that, if there is no taboo?)
Someone like Robert S. McNamara (to clarify my "RSM") similarly provides a lot of evidence for a "taboo"— his objections to use seem to go well beyond strict deterrence concerns. One gets the sense that there was a deep emotional, ideological core to his ideas re: non-use.
