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.
At that point the penagon opened up a file drawer handed the WH the file and said here you go. Of course 'the usual suspects' will now get their undies in a bunch. Editorials will be flying thick and heavy, NK will state that if the "imperialist warmongers" the peaceloving peoples of the DPRK are more than willing to die for the "dear leader" (huff huff) Cookis Roberts will tsk tsk, Clp. Cueball will pontifacate that such a thing would never happen if only Al 'alpha-male' Gore had been declared the winner, Alec Baldwin will come down with a near fatal case of the vapors and threaten to move to terra-del-Fugeo.
North Korea has nuclear weapons (dirty nukes at a minimum). Iraq very likely has dirty nuke capability. Many of these countries would love to "test" one of their weapons on America via what they think are untraceable terrorists. We have to let them know it will be traced and repaid in kind a thousand fold. Otherwise sooner or later the unthinkable is going to happen. Only fear at the root level in these terrorist supporting countries will stop it from happening if it can be prevented at all.
I don't think you realize just how close we are to something nuclear happening in America. Offending or enemies along with a few friends is a small price to pay to help prevent this from happening. The stakes are far too high.
I couldn't agree more. If we let our guard down China may attempt a first strike sometime in the future. The Chinese government and military considers war with the United States inevitable. The Chinese are patient and they have a long-term strategy. They will wait until their military is strong and then strike us when we have a wussy Democrat in the White House.
Did you ever notice the binder with the title WORLD TARGETS IN MEGADEATHS that Gen. Turgidson has on the round table in the war room? LOL! That is sick, but that movie cracks me up every time I watch it.
So what facts do you have other than government propaganda attempting to scare you out of your freedoms?
So what? I still think the same objective could have been accomplished without naming countries.
The exact same thing, China, North Korea and Iran have done their own sabre-rattling themselves. Syria and Libya are nuts enough to try at least blackmail if they could. Russia has been on the list for decades and knows it. Thing are pretty good with them these days, but that could always change and they do have the largest arsenal in the world besides us, it would be reckless not to have a plan just in case.
So, lemme get this straight: when another country sabre-rattles, we should threaten them with nukes? C'mon! BTW, from all I've read, Libya has done nothing but cooperate lately.
I tend to agree with many off the posters above who think this was an intended leak to put the world on notice that we are willing to do whatever it take to defend ourselves without saying it overtly. The only ones trying to anger the world are the leakers and the leftist press.
Without saying it overtly????? It'll be interesting to see world reaction to this, I'm sure these countries will be thrilled to be on The List.
Thank you very much for bringing up the moral component of this. I've noticed that no one else has responded to you...I guess it's more important to trash congress and the la slimes than worry about some collateral damage.
Anybody on FreeRepublic is more of a nuclear expert than this president of a non-profit political action group.
I feel like giving a grade to this article. But I need to know what class it was written for. Political Science? Philosophy? Physics? History? Oh, well, on a scale of 0 to 10, where 6 and up is a passing grade, it gets a 1. It would get a zero, but I assume the student spelled his own name correctly.
If this is diplomacy, I'd sure hate to see a real threat. So the US now defines righteousness and righteously threatens other countries with WMD? I see a paradox here.
Think outside the box a bit and tell me if you can see how some of the nuttier countries would perceive this as a threat of sorts rather than some sort of offensive statement??????????????????? Can you see how one of those countries could be provoked to attack us because we appear to be threatening them?????
It was a leak! It was not meant for release.
when another country sabre-rattles, we should threaten them with nukes?
We did not threaten them, we prepared a defense plan.
BTW, from all I've read, Libya has done nothing but cooperate lately.
Yes, they have, but they have also constructed hardened underground sites that a nuke might be needed to penetrate. Do you trust Kadafi(sp?)?
Without saying it overtly?????
I repeat, it was a leak, Pres. Bush didn't give a speach about it.
It'll be interesting to see world reaction to this, I'm sure these countries will be thrilled to be on The List.
So? What are they going to do? Attack? If they do, they would have anyway. I'm glad we have a plan to deal with whatever they can throw at us.
While typing this I heard on the radio that the administration is upset over the leak, that is not to say that they did not expect Congress to do it.
Remember, this came from Congress, and the report was at their own request:
Congress requested the reassessment of the U.S. nuclear posture
From:
U.S. Works Up Plan for Using Nuclear Arms
The bottom line in my view is that it is smart for the DOD to be prepared for every contingency. Is it their fault that some troublemaker in Congress in cahoots with the press leaks the Pentagon's due dilligence? Whoever leaked it should be tried and hung in public for TREASON.
I can only repeat the question, because you haven't given me a reasonable answer.
Yes, we were attacked on September 11th....
However, we are not at war.... Only Congress can declare war.... Or so the Constitution days...
which is my point.
The LA times sapparently published a story based on statements out of Congress.
If Congress Critters make statements, the LA Times or anyone else can and should publish... that's news....
Do you have no problem, however, with the summary way in which the administration is deporting itself?
No need, France is surrendering as we speak.
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