[ewing]

More psy ops on Saddam?

[Principled]

I think so - but I also think every word is accurate. We are surely prepared for any contingency... not the least likely of which is Saddam's use of WMD. Our response will be devastatingly precise and effective.

[commish]

Seems this same story was circulated almost word for word at the beginning of the Afghan Campaign also.

The LA SLIMES and company are doing their best to try and paint this as some startling and troubling development, when the fact of the matter is that Every campaign is designed with the use of ALL weapons factored in as contingencies.

Also, we have had a "Respond in Kind" policy for the use of WMD for years. You use a WMD on us, we drop a nuke on you - quid pro quo.

[bonesmccoy]

I don't think that's psyops. I think the gov't is just letting the bad guys know that we are serious about retalliation.

If Iraq pulls a domestic attack through sleepers or hits our troops in the field with WMD, they are just reiterating our ability to field and to use a nuke.

After all, if we are hit with WMD, you would expect an escalation in our military response, but we don't use biologics or chemicals. So, tactical nukes are the only response.

[Thane_Banquo]

Good development. Try not to use them in densely populated areas unless Iraq uses WMD first.

Our enemies aren't afraid of us. Political correctness has rendered us impotent. This development is a nice move towards strikign fear in the hearts of Jihadists everywhere.

[Mike Darancette]

Picture me using the E-Times (both LA and India) in my E-Birdcage and to wrap my E-Fish.

[TLBSHOW]

That should be used first I would think and we don't send any of our boys in just NUKE IRAQ!

[ex-Texan]

Just GWB getting the word out to Saddam. It accomplishes several objectives with one stroke. It will smoke out more hidden aQ rats than we can imagine.

(Someone just tried to hack into my computer as I typed that last sentence .... amazing! Thank God I have good software. Think DNC hackers and crackers are lurking on Free Republic more and more now that they see the site flourishing. Gonna log off right now.)

[kristinn]

The last paragraph of this article sounds good to me:

A White House spokesman declined to comment on Friday on Arkin's report, except to say that "the US reserves the right to defend itself and its allies by whatever means necessary."

[metesky]

The preparations include possible use of so called 'bunker buster' nuclear weapons...

It's my understanding that "bunker busters" are not nuclear weapons.

[1234]

hope this is yanked PRONTO from breakin news-IT AIN'T BREAKIN NEWS!!!!!! MODERATOR, PUL-LEEZE SHOW UP!!

[arkady_renko]

Why is 'tactical' mispelled in the title and each time it is used? The source has it spelled correctly.

Just curious...

[leadpenny]

Davey Crockett Mortar Platoon?

[prisoner6]

Yuppers. We MAY use anything at anytime against anyone. Personally unless there is an immenent threat against us, I would bet we'll see lots of stories like this just before the dark of the moon. In this case it we also have teh UN inspectors report.

Iraq will be on guard for all kinds of attacks, but we'll wait. Who know how long? Maybe next month, maybe March or beyond is the real attack date.

In the meantime Iraq (and others in the middle east), are expending resources to brace for the assault. And maybe the psychology will work, Saddam goes away one way or another,we get a foothold in a very strategic area and we can move on to the next towel head, terrorist supporting country.

It also sends a not to subtle message to all the other third world, worthless countries to get on board with us, or go your own way and keep away from us.

prisoner6

[pabianice]

If Iraq hits Israel with chemical or germ weapons, who doubts that Israel will make Iraq glow in the dark?

[Petronski]

Freep this poll and ruin a DUer's day! Bwa ha ha ha ha!

[YaYa123]

I can't believe this administration would trust an important leak like this to a tree hugging, bleeding heart wienie.

But... except for that remote possibility... why would this aricle be written...why would it be published? I'm such a skeptic....but the LATIMES? nah...I'm not believing this article has any basis in fact.

[Kerberos]

"If the United States dropped a bomb on an Arab country, it might be a military success, but it would be a diplomatic, political and strategic disaster,"

Oh well, I guess sometimes you just have to make sacrifices.

[b4its2late]

Some officials have argued that the blast and radiation of effect of such strikes would be limited.

Neutron? A couple of them dropped in the middle of a few palaces might just do the trick if Saddam uses any WND during or prior to the conflict.

[DWSUWF]

Nukes are a big stick that we should use on the turd world pissants out there.

The use of TACTICAL nukes won't make the use of STRATEGIC nukes, by our militarily near-equal geo-political rivals one whit more likely.

But they'll quickly dot the eyes of the ankle-biting vermin we must deal with.

Nukes are just tools.

We just need to remember to operate them with all guards securely in place while wearing our safety glasses...

[chance33_98]

Interesting in light of this coming out of california too: Schools to Hold Anti-War Teach-In - Berkeley BOE passes resolution, MEGA BARF IDIOTS ALERT!