Powell defends nuclear planning

Washington Times ^ | 3/11/02

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Secretary of State Colin L. Powell said yesterday a classified Pentagon report reviewing U.S. options for the use of nuclear weapons was simply "sound, military, conceptual planning" and not a precursor to any imminent U.S. action.

Mr. Powell discussed the secret document on the CBS "Face the Nation" program after the Los Angeles Times reported Saturday that the Defense Department study outlined a contingency plan to use nuclear weapons against at least seven countries

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

Why have the nukes if we aren't going to employ them?

[Brilliant]

What they are doing by leaking this report is brilliant. They are in the process of moving men, equipment, and munitions from Europe and Korea to the Iraqi theatre. They are moving ships there as well. They've already exhausted the meager allotment of smart bombs and missiles that Clinton left behind, and they are concerned that all of that might leave Europe, South Korea, or Taiwan defenseless, or at least cause the Russian, Chinese, and North Korean generals to miscalculate, and believe they can mount an invasion while we are preoccupied with Iraq. By leaking this report, Bush is telling the Russians, Chinese, and North Koreans that he's prepared to use nukes, if they attack. It's a warning that they should not misjudge the situation.

[Paul Atreides]

Mr. Powell added, however, that "we should not get all carried away with some sense that the United States is planning to use nuclear weapons in some contingency that is coming up in the near future. It is not the case."

Powell also added, "And don't bother using condoms in your bomb shelters; we have to repopulate the country you know."