... nails the shot !
:-)
Posted on 03/09/2002 1:07:48 AM PST by kattracks
The White House has ordered the Pentagon to prepare plans for using nuclear weapons against at least seven countries and to build smaller nuclear bombs for certain battlefield situations, according to a published report today.
Tops on the nuclear hit list are China, Russia, Iraq, North Korea, Iran, Libya and Syria, according to a classified Pentagon report obtained by the Los Angeles Times.
"This is dynamite," Joseph Cirincione, a nuclear arms expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, told the newspaper. "I can imagine what these countries are going to be saying at the UN."
The Times said the secret report, given to Congress on Jan. 8, says the nuclear weapons could be used against targets able to withstand nuclear attack; in retaliation for attack with nuclear, biological or chemical weapons, or "in the event of surprising military developments."
The report says the Pentagon should be prepared to use nuclear weapons in an Arab-Israeli conflict, in a war between China and Taiwan or in an attack by North Korea on the south, and possibly in an attack by Iraq on Israel or another neighbor.
The call for a limited-range arsenal was seen as an important deterrent against enemies who doubt the U.S. would use larger weapons in certain situations because of the widespread death and destruction they would cause.
The U.S. has long had a detailed plan for nuclear attack on Russia, but the new Nuclear Posture Review apparently marks the first time an official list of potential targets has been compiled.
The report acknowledges Russia is no longer officially an "enemy," but cites concern about the huge Russian arsenal of about 6,000 deployed warheads and some 10,000 smaller "theater" weapons, The Times said.
Pentagon spokesman Richard McGraw declined comment because, he said, the report is classified.
Nuclear analysts predicted to the newspaper that the report would draw strong reaction, but some insisted the Pentagon must be ready — especially after Sept. 11 — for all contingencies.
One nuclear expert, John Isaacs, president of the Council for a Livable World, said, "This is very, very dangerous talk.... Dr. Strangelove is clearly still alive in the Pentagon."
U.S. policy generally has been to consider the use of nuclear weapons against nonnuclear states only if they are allied with nuclear powers.
Note: China tops the list. I can imagine how the Chinese will complain about "hurt feelings" and American "hegemony".
If you really want to scare them, we could name the cities we would nuke just like they did to us.
It was used against Goldwater and Reagan.
Of course THEN, our nation had not been attacked!
Now that we have been attacked - surely most Americans understand that our military must be prepared for every eventuality.
But the old peacenik propagandists will take this and run with it and attempt to scare everyone to death that W is about to push the button.
Clinton unilaterally opened our nation up to a nuclear strike. What struck was not nuclear but it was a devastating blow just was well.
We were struck DIRECTLY because of Clinton's "disarming" of our nation for those eight long years - and it is a very good thing that nations know we can and will defend ourselves with whatever is necessary to destroy any potential striker!
But that will not stop the peaceniks from turning out by the thousands now with this news.
Here we go again.
Kind words from Mr. Tull about Mr. Bush...
Never thought I live to see the day...
the French will be very displeased and the UK Guardian will implode. ; )
Looks like the report did some good then:0)
How about Chapaqua, New York? (when they are both home, holding a party for the DemoncRat leadership, of course). Talk about an "Axis of Evil".
What is your beef with Pakistan? They've shown themselves to be very very decent allies.
... nails the shot !
:-)
Hmmmmm...all of the countries on The List have nukes? If so, I can think of three more countries that should have been on The List.
I still think naming names is unnecessarily provocative. If what you say is true, then the same objective could have been accomplished by leaking that we're gearing up our weapons "just in case".
LMAO!!! Exactly right. Took 22 posts, but someone finally got it. Congrats. :)
This is not "dynamite" as the Carnegie Endowment peacenik calls it. It is "real politik" as Henry Kissinger would call it. Or, "politics by other means," as von Clauswitz called it.
Yawn.
Congressman Billybob
Only until Musharaaf gets overthrown. He's having to change his cabinet around every 6-8 days to avoid a coup. It's really only a question of time until he gets overthrown. When that happens, expect the pendulum to swing the other way ... hard!
Some expert! Joe, this is FISSIONABLE MATERIAL. You don't use that to clear stumps.
Pick a leftist d or r and you have your leak.
My first thought........
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