**US MAY USE TATICAL NUKES IN IRAQ**

LA Times and Times of India ^ | January 25, 2003 | William Arkin

[ewing]

The United States is quietly preparing for the use of tatical nuclear weapons in a war against Iraq and military planners have been actively studying lists of potential targets, the media reported Saturday.

The preparations include possible use of so called 'bunker buster' nuclear weapons against deeply buried military targets the Los Angeles Times reported on Saturday morning quoting William M. Arkin.

Defence officials have been focusing their plans on the use of tatical nuclear arms in retaliation for a strike by the Iraqis with chemical or biological weapons, or to preempt one, the daily said.

US Administration officials believe that in some circumstances, using nuclear arms may be the only way to destory deeply buried targets that may contain unconventional weapons, the report said.

Some officials have argued that the blast and radiation of effect of such strikes would be limited.

[1234]

hope this is yanked PRONTO from breakin news-IT AIN'T BREAKIN NEWS!!!!!! MODERATOR, PUL-LEEZE SHOW UP!!

[kristinn]

Dunno, but it helps to make Saddam and his generals think so.

[ewing]

These are new weapons, I read an article about them in the London papers during the Afghan Tora Bora attack.

The Allied US and British military ( they were designed in the UK) has been testing them in Nevada, it appears that they have a small kiloton load (1-5) to prevent widespread radiation and that they have a device that will dig into the ground to seek the target and destroy it.

Thankfully the caves in Afghanistan didn't require the use of these weapons the Daisy Cutters did just fine.

[ewing]

This is 'breaking news' designed to get Saddam to pee in his pants..as I see it!

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Weather forecast for Baghdad:
Cloudy, 2500 degrees.

[arkady_renko]

Why is 'tactical' mispelled in the title and each time it is used? The source has it spelled correctly.

Just curious...

[leadpenny]

Davey Crockett Mortar Platoon?

[TommyDale]

Not only does this new generation "bunker buster" carry a small nuclear warhead, it is designed to explode downward,
leaving little or no trace of radiation above ground, but totally destroying everything in the underground bunker.

[ewing]

Not enough coffee yet, my misspelling.

[1234]

This is 'breaking news' designed to get Saddam to pee in his pants..as I see it!

YESSUH, i agree; but in our forum it ain't breakin info/fact: that's my only point, unless the elevation of our psy-ops/propaganda is to be considered in the 'breakin' category, which i think is a 'matter of debate'....

[section9]

The Nancies over at DUh.com are peeing their pants over this one.

For the life of me, I can't see why.

It has been the doctrine of the United States to respond to any attack using WMD with tactical nuclear weapons. Biowar and Chem weapons are in our inventory, but we do not use them. This has been our doctrine since the dawn of the Cold War.

So let's not get concerned about William Rivers Pitt and the goobers over at DU. Besides, they're too busy snapping up copies of The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion to care. Gotta get mentally ready for all those Anti-War/Anti-Zionist rallies, dontchaknow.....

But in all seriousness, this is a big, spanking message to the Iraqi General Staff and the field grade Iraqi officers. "Don't Follow Orders, Or Else...".

This leak was necessary, and all to the good.

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[prisoner6]

Yuppers. We MAY use anything at anytime against anyone. Personally unless there is an immenent threat against us, I would bet we'll see lots of stories like this just before the dark of the moon. In this case it we also have teh UN inspectors report.

Iraq will be on guard for all kinds of attacks, but we'll wait. Who know how long? Maybe next month, maybe March or beyond is the real attack date.

In the meantime Iraq (and others in the middle east), are expending resources to brace for the assault. And maybe the psychology will work, Saddam goes away one way or another,we get a foothold in a very strategic area and we can move on to the next towel head, terrorist supporting country.

It also sends a not to subtle message to all the other third world, worthless countries to get on board with us, or go your own way and keep away from us.

prisoner6

[elfman2]

”Did we say 'pre emptive' strike during the beginning of the Afghan campaign as well?”

If you believe the left leaning LA time’s didn’t just throw the “preemptive” caveat in to scare moderates, sell papers, get the Pentagon to deny it etc…, then I have some magic beans you may be interested in.

[YaYa123]

But just so we know who we're reading here:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/dotmil/bio. htm

"About William Arkin

William M. Arkin, an Army veteran, author and consultant, was born in New York City and currently lives in South Pomfret, VT.

He served in the Army from 1974-1978, where he was an intelligence analyst assigned to the headquarters of the West Berlin command. After the Army, Bill worked for a number of not-for-profit think tanks and pressure groups in Washington.

During the 1980's, Arkin became an authority on nuclear weapons. He has written a column for The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists since 1985. He wrote his first book "Research Guide to Current Military and Strategic Affairs" in 1981. Since then, he has authored or coauthored eight more books and dozens of book-length monographs and studies on military affairs.

Arkin consults for a number of organizations, including the Natural Resources Defense Council and Human Rights Watch. He is also a military commentator for MSNBC.

Arkin went on the Internet in 1994 with his book, "The U.S. Military Online: A Directory for Internet Access to the Department of Defense." He has become expert on the national security dimensions of the Internet, lectures widely on the subject and conducts Internet training.

His DOT.MIL column, launched in November 1998, appears every other Monday at washingtonpost.com. "

Whoopdeedoo...4 years in the army in the 70s...didn't mention his rank....and I love the fact that during the 80s, he "became an authority on nuclear weapons"... would be nice to know how he managed that. And consulting for Natural Resources Defense Council, Human Rights Watch, and working for MSNBC doesn't impress me much at all. I suspect Arkin isn't "analyzing" as much as he is fear mongering the anti nuke crowd into action against President Bush. .

[Petronski]

So let's not get concerned about William Rivers Pitt and the goobers over at DU...

Nah, Chris, I'm not concerned. I like to lurk there because it is so entertaining: a kind of hysterical sideshow to history.

[pabianice]

If Iraq hits Israel with chemical or germ weapons, who doubts that Israel will make Iraq glow in the dark?

[Petronski]

Freep this poll and ruin a DUer's day! Bwa ha ha ha ha!

[kristinn]

A reporter for the LALA Times and Compost furthering his leftist agenda through his reporting? Perish the thought.

[ewing]

If it helps our fighting boys, I am all for doing it.

[YaYa123]

I can't believe this administration would trust an important leak like this to a tree hugging, bleeding heart wienie.

But... except for that remote possibility... why would this aricle be written...why would it be published? I'm such a skeptic....but the LATIMES? nah...I'm not believing this article has any basis in fact.