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.
I could have a "field day" with that last phrase. I sure would like to see how the military defines "surprising military developments".
The problem is nobody ever says "you're talking about mass murder!"
That sentence is always left out. "Sure we might get our hair mussed..."
This story is just one of the potential catalysts designed and orchestrated to revive/renew the sixties-style activism on our campuses nation wide.
That's exactly what I was thinking. I wonder if they are calling out the troops (at campuses) to battle AVOT. AVOT will launch a campaign to defend America's war on terrorism against those who would weaken the nation's resolve and erode our commitment to end the international menace of terrorism. AVOT will take its campaign to where it is needed most-college campuses, seminar rooms, editorial pages, and other media outlets. Chaired by William Bennett, AVOT brings together a strong intellectual fighting force of senior advisors well versed in the various aspects of the war on terrorism. These advisors include: James Woolsey, former Director of Central Intelligence At Tuesday's press conference, William Bennett and senior advisors will discuss AVOT's principles, mission, and plan of action and will take questions from the press. DATE: Tuesday, March 12, 2002 *Americans for Victory Over Terrorism is a project of EMPOWER.org.On Tuesday, March 12th, former U.S. Secretary of Education William Bennett will hold a press conference to introduce a new project: Americans for Victory Over Terrorism (AVOT).*
William Barr, former U.S. Attorney General
Frank Gaffney, former Assistant Secretary of Defense
Walid Phares, Middle East scholar, author, and professor at Florida Atlantic University
Ruth Wisse, author, scholar, and professor at Harvard University
TIME: 10:00 a.m.
LOCATION: National Press Club
(Zenger Room)
529 14th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20045
We must never again be unprepared.
And Dashole is complaining that Bush doesn't inform him of our shadow government. Firstly, I think Bush did inform him but that is kept secret,everything else isn't.
Exactly. The Los Angeles Times should have its assets frozen for printing classified documents. It gives aid and comfort to our enemies to know they have people on this inside.
After I posted it on the Freepathon Celebration Thread, another freeper freep mailed me to go to the right of the cartoon to see the looks of who may be next! So now when I post it, I add the comment to go to the right of your screen.
It is so appropriate today!
What did we spend all that money on those nukes for if we're not going to use some of them? :)
This is, of course, a rational statement. Only the dead have seen the end of War--with apologies to Plato and MacArthur. But the list of targets is slightly idiotic. Syria and Libya are not such powers, militarily, that they should appear on so exclusive a list.
In actuality, the history of the world is such that today's allies can easily be tomorrow's enemies. And a wise Nation has contingency plans vis-a-vis every other nation. While I would be as horrified as any of the rest of you, if we ever had to execute such contingency plans, we ought to have developed options with respect to the other nuclear powers. That might possibly include Iran, Iraq and North Korea--all of whom have possible capability to get there without further notice to us. But it should definitely include Britain, France, India, Pakistan and Israel.
And, because this aspect of military policy is so easily grossly misunderstood by the general public; such contingency plans should never, ever, be leaked to anyone! Frankly, this last point is so important, it is very difficult to believe this Los Angeles report is anything other than a contrived propaganda ploy. I suspect that we in fact do have the contingency plans that I suggest we should have; and that such plans are among our most carefully guarded secrets.
William Flax Return Of The Gods Web Site
These demonicRat senators who hate America and our military and still think that this is 1960/1970 leaked some of that briefing. All hell broke loose. Each senator was called in for a little correction therapy.
GW used his stealth techniques to trash those leaking scum bags. My bets on those early leaks were on Leaky Leahy and the Chifi b$tch. Of course the Rats can only get on the intel committees as demonicRats only if they hate America and promise to leak classified data to the Compost and LA and NY Slimes and of course CNBCABCNBCCBSCNNCSPAN. They have been doing this since the 1960's.
This so called leak and the Slime magazine fiasco re the fake nuke bomb is classic old CIA techniques to smoke out the bad people acting like they are on your team. The leakers have left a trail of stink right back to their offices in DC.
The only way this leaking will ever stop is when a leak costs a lot of American lives here or in combat. Then, we have to go to the Secrecy Act that the Brits use. You violate their secrecy act, you are pushing up flowers or in jail for the rest of your life.
Bush should trust them WITH NOTHING - NOTHING - NOTHING
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