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?!!!
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.
Where's the Declaration?
Groung Zero NYC. You might want to check it out.
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.
And the congregation shouted AMEN Brother Doug!
OK, who leaked the story from Congress?
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.
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.
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.
Carolyn
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!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.