Posted on 02/01/2005 5:45:46 PM PST by blam
Rumsfeld backs nuclear bunker bomb to hit Iran atom sites
By Francis Harris in Washington
(Filed: 02/02/2005)
The Pentagon wants to revive a controversial programme to build nuclear warheads capable of penetrating hardened underground targets such as Iran's covert nuclear facilities.
A leaked memo from Donald Rumsfeld, the US defence secretary, to the energy department proposed funding for the scheme to begin next year. "You can count on my support for your efforts to revitalise the nuclear weapons infrastructure and to complete the RNEP (robust nuclear earth penetrator) study," Mr Rumsfeld wrote in a memo seen by the Washington Post.
The leak seems certain to trigger a major row with Congress, which eliminated the scheme from the budget last year.
That decision was made at the behest of Republican legislators angered by estimates suggesting the programme would cost more than $500 million (£265 million). The Bush administration has long emphasised that the scheme is merely a question of research and that Congress would have to approve the production of such weapons.
Democrats too were outraged, arguing that programmes to improve nuclear weapons made their use more likely and undermined US efforts to halt the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in other countries. The Arms Control Association, a pressure group which has opposed the bunker-buster scheme, said: "The administration is missing a key opportunity to make good on the congressional decision last year... it sends the wrong signal to the international community on the US approach on non-proliferation."
The US military has been studying bunker-busting weapons with renewed vigour since the September 11 attacks.
Osama bin Laden is believed to favour underground caves as a hiding place and used the Tora Bora network in the mountains of Afghanistan when he fled US-led forces in late 2001.
At the time, the Americans used the so-called Daisy Cutter, at 15,000lb the world's largest conventional bomb but still a thousand time less powerful than the weapon used at Hiroshima.
That has turned military minds back to the nuclear options, not least because the American military may one day be asked to launch raids against Iranian facilities.
The Americans believe the Iranians are working on building nuclear warheads despite Teheran's denials. The Islamic regime is also working on medium-range missiles capable of reaching Israel, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and US forces in the Middle East.
Other longer-range missiles capable of reaching Europe are also being developed, the Americans believe.
and we need them. Shep Smith did a report while in Baghdad for the election - showing one of Saddam's underground bunkers, almost untouched even though we hit it multiple times with conventional bunker busters. The discovery channel had a similar show a while back. the truth is, we cannot penetrate these nuclear sites if their bunker technology (from eastern europe) is as good as shown in these reports. either we nuke them, or we need a ground invasion to seize the facilities.
He should get the esteemed honor of pushing the red button.
Or to let the mullahs know they can rest easy, knowing they haven't even started on them, yet.
You would think we woiuld considering the fact that any of us can go to Global Security.org and see that Iran is building dozens of underground Nuclear facilities. They say it's for peaceful purposes, I say "Horse Hockey"
ROBUST- I like that word. Mrs Folgers used that all the time in her coffee ads.
Whatever my Rummy wants to do, is ok with me. Go, Rummy!!! You're my man!!
It's a warning shot across Iran's bow.
These are essential weapons--and not only for cave rats like Osama. The leaderships of places like Russia, China, and North Korea have to understand that you can run but you cannot hide from the power of the US. An attack on US has to be seen as a suicide attack for the leadership of any nation mad enough to try it. Congressional oppponents should be investigated for financial ties to foreign powers.
Either that or spitballs.
Democrats too were outraged, arguing that programmes to improve nuclear weapons made their use more likely,
however they continued to assert that Iran's right to
"Peaceful Nukler power" should not be infringed.
Bbbbut if Iran continues to improve on it's nuclear weapon
wouldn't that mean it would be more likely to be used?
How's it a warning when it will be years before they make these things if they make them at all?
We can be as deceptive as the Iranians.
Refresh my memory. Who are you referring to?
Disagree completely....first the VP's comment on the Imuys show..now this...Cheney and Rummy ain't stupid..this is NO leak this is all a deliberate psywar ops aimed at the mullahs in Tehran..
Hey Limey tabloid: You all better start hunting an ISREAL leaky memo cause thats where your doom will issue.
I'm with you. We are laying down the law to the Mullahs..
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