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Report: Military Plans Nuke Hits on 7 Countries
New York Daily News ^ | 3/09/02 | LEO STANDORA

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.




TOPICS: Breaking News; News/Current Events
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To: kattracks
Afternoon bump.
181 posted on 03/09/2002 9:33:20 AM PST by blam
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To: Beenliedto
(We are at war)

Where's the Declaration?

Groung Zero NYC. You might want to check it out.

182 posted on 03/09/2002 9:35:08 AM PST by Toddsterpatriot
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Comment #183 Removed by Moderator

Comment #184 Removed by Moderator

To: My Favorite Headache
China continues to be a hostile Communist country. Also think they supply arms to Iraq. They care about money and want to be the richest country not the US.
185 posted on 03/09/2002 9:57:21 AM PST by Lady GOP
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To: Paul Ross,Chapita,flamefront,ChaseR,Uncle Bill,Wallaby,super175,Squantos,golitely,Donald Stone,zog
BTTT!
186 posted on 03/09/2002 10:00:39 AM PST by OKCSubmariner
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To: Dan Day

Mein fuhrer... er Mister President, the whole point of a doomsday machine is lost --- if you keep it a SECRET. VHY HAVEN'T YOU BEEN TELLING THE WORLD EH?!!!
187 posted on 03/09/2002 10:29:13 AM PST by Pay now bill Clinton
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To: wretchard
Ahem.. India
188 posted on 03/09/2002 10:35:12 AM PST by Almondjoy
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To: kattracks
A perfect example of why Congress can no longer receive classified information! This was obviously leaked by a Democrat whose intentions are to inflame world opinion against President Bush even more! You KNOW the rest of the world is going to react very negatively towards this.

The leaker wants to convey the notion that President Bush is a hawk intent on destroying the world. Never mind that EVERY nuclear power on the planet has the same type of contigency plans.

I am e-mailing everyone at FoxNews, and any other organizations expressing my opinion that this is a prime example of why Congress can NO LONGER BE TRUSTED with classified information that is necessary for the protection of the USA.

189 posted on 03/09/2002 10:36:33 AM PST by technomage
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To: Leisler
Why not let all countries have their own nukes. No need for a delivery system, they can simply house them in their embassies and counselates. I can't imagine a more effective deterrent for everyone concerned. I understand Switzerland was using this strategy not too long ago.
190 posted on 03/09/2002 10:40:28 AM PST by Pay now bill Clinton
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To: kattracks
This simply tells the enemies, and potential enemies of the USA, that America will use it's nuclear arsenal, if attacked with any kind of nuclear weapons, including the suitcase kind favored by terrorists. I believe that these targets also include those countries, who supply terrorists with nuclear weapons used against the USA. Thus the plan is a strong deterent against a nuclear attack against us, including those carried out by terrorists. Good move by the Administration in protecting us.
191 posted on 03/09/2002 10:59:52 AM PST by desertcry
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To: doug from upland
PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH

And the congregation shouted AMEN Brother Doug!

192 posted on 03/09/2002 11:00:59 AM PST by Protect the Bill of Rights
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To: kattracks
The Times said the secret report, given to Congress on Jan. 8,

OK, who leaked the story from Congress?

193 posted on 03/09/2002 11:13:20 AM PST by Salvation
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To: unix
still have no idea how that one passed the media's radar screen's without sheer painful outcry from the leftist extremists 24x7

Simple; Bush never gave them a chance. Most post-WWII administrations (Reagan's was somewhat of an exception) were afraid of the media reactions to everything they might do, and Clinton made it worse by intentionally leaking every potential policy change and/or having his pollsters test it to see its effect on his popularity rating before he ever implemented anything.

Bush, on the other hand, simply DID it. No leaks, no focus groups, not one iota of concern as to how much the psycholeftists and the professional Bush-haters in the news media might shriek about it. The decision was made before any of them even had a chance to open their giant mouths. And all their shrieking now isn't going to change it.

There are still a few remnants of this Washington Wussiness around - see how the Pentagon caved in on their plans for the Office of Strategic Influence after the media intentionally lied and spun about its purpose. But even that has a silver lining - the Pentagon will now merely do such things deep in the background instead of openly, a far preferable solution.

And you can be sure that as a result of this OSI mess, the White House now has the names of a few more Clintonoid generals over at the Pentagon that are going to be eased into early retirement. At the start of every war, there's always a ton of deadwood in the military that either cannot or will not adapt to the new paradigm, and it takes up to two years for them to all be identified and expunged. But it is happening.

194 posted on 03/09/2002 11:15:10 AM PST by Timesink
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To: LiberteeBell
...this level of sabre rattling is a but much...

Actually, I think issuing a planned "leak" is quite a diplomatic way of saying "you're on our list--don't screw up" to a group of degenerate scummy "countries" who desparately need a saber in the face. Anyway, who on this list do you think is righteous enough actually to be offended?

More to the point, they need to be reminded that fat Willy isn't their "friend in the White House" any more.

195 posted on 03/09/2002 11:22:24 AM PST by hinckley buzzard
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To: Beenliedto
Congress has been too cowardly to vote for one. However, printing classified information endangers lives whether our incompetent representatives have grown some testicular fortitude or not.

Would you be happy with the LA Times publishing all classified military information that isn't associated with a war declared by Congress? If so, you must be a fan of Mr. Leahy.

196 posted on 03/09/2002 11:33:59 AM PST by Teacher317
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To: kattracks
The military has contingency plans for all kinds of things and has had for many years -- I wonder why these are being talked about now?

Carolyn

197 posted on 03/09/2002 11:41:29 AM PST by CDHart
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To: kattracks
"the secret report, given to Congress"

And ... what was that Daschle was saying about the government not keeping him informed??? With the release of this "classified" information, I'd say there was ample reason to NOT TELL these bozos anything.

And ... I cannot believe China is first and Russia is second on the list. Iraq, Iran, Syria, Libya, Yemen, and some of the other smaller terrorist states, maybe, but China and Russia ... No!

198 posted on 03/09/2002 11:42:59 AM PST by CyberAnt
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To: kattracks
"Nuclear analysts . . . predictted that the report would create a strong reaction."

This is criminal. The LA Times releases classified information that it knows will increase world tensions. Who had the motive and the opportunity to leak this information? The Democrats on the Armed Services Committee and their staffers, that's who. This is a deliberate attempt to create problems for Bush in an election year. God damn the Democrats.
199 posted on 03/09/2002 11:53:27 AM PST by Steve_Seattle
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To: Sir Charles
Sorry, that would be a two-headed monster. Too many times both foreign and domestic intertwine. Who would be the leader then?? You can only have 1 leader - one place where the buck stops!!
200 posted on 03/09/2002 11:55:10 AM PST by CyberAnt
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