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| Axis of Evil |
| U.S. prepares for possible use of nukes in Iraq |
| 2003-01-25 |
| (via Drudge) By PAUL RICHTER Los Angeles Times WASHINGTON -- As the Pentagon continues a highly visible buildup of troops and weapons in the Persian Gulf, it is also quietly preparing for the possible use of nuclear weapons in the potential war against Iraq, according to a report by a defense analyst. Although they consider such a strike unlikely, military planners have been actively studying lists of potential targets and considering options, including the possible use of so-called "bunker buster" nuclear weapons against deeply buried military targets, says analyst William M. Arkin, who writes a regular column on defense matters for the Los Angeles Times. and wanted to remind defection-minded Iraqi honchos Military officials have been focusing their planning on the use of nuclear arms in retaliation for a strike by the Iraqis with chemical or biological weapons, or to pre-empt one, Arkin says. Administration officials believe that in some circumstances, nuclear arms may offer the only way to destroy deeply buried targets that may contain unconventional weapons that could kill thousands. Some officials have argued that the blast and radiation effects of such strikes would be limited. But that is in dispute. Critics contend that a bunker-buster strike could involve a huge radiation release and dangerous blast damage OOOhhhh nukes! They don't release when they're buried, they just make a nice hard sarin/anthrax/concrete/Iraqi diamond . They also say that use of a nuclear weapon in such circumstances would encourage other nuclear-armed countries to consider using those weapons in more kinds of situations, and would badly undermine the half-century effort to contain the spread of nuclear weapons. I guess they don't know about Iraq/Iran/NKor/Pakistan/India Although it may be highly unlikely that the Bush administration would authorize the use of such weapons in Iraq -- Arkin describes it as a worst-case scenario -- the mere disclosure of its planning contingencies could stiffen the opposition of France, Germany and Middle East nations to any invasion of Iraq. "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," said Joseph Cirincione, director of nonproliferation studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington. In the past year, Bush administration officials have repeatedly made clear that they want to be better prepared to consider the nuclear option against the threat of "weapons of mass destruction" in the hands of terrorists and rogue nations. The current planning activities, as reported by Arkin, offer a concrete example of their determination to follow through on this pledge. Arkin also says that the Pentagon has changed the bureaucratic oversight of nuclear weapons so that they are no longer treated as a special category of arms, but grouped with conventional military options. A White House spokesman declined comment Friday on Arkin's report, except to say that "the United States reserves the right to defend itself and its allies by whatever means necessary." David J. Smith, an arms-control negotiator in the first Bush administration, said presidents would only consider using such a weapon "in terribly ugly situations where there are no easy ways out. If there's a threat that could involve huge numbers of American lives, I as a citizen would want the president to consider that option." |
| Posted by:Frank G |
| #2 Actually some of the younger generation looks like they suffer from radiation-damaged DNA, but that's what too much piercing and tattoos will do. |
| Posted by: Tresho 2003-01-27 01:45:57 |
| #1 "Critics contend that a bunker-buster strike could involve a huge radiation release". Of course the Japanese are still living in the two cities were the US field tested these devices 55+ years ago. They moved right back in without the EPA or OSHA stripping the first 10 feet of surface soil for radiation. I do recall growing up down wind, though not as close as Las Vegas, of numerous large above ground open air nuke tests in Nevada during the 50's and early 60's. We didn't drop like flies or progenerate offsprings with hands sticking out of their foreheads. Actually, the use of nukes would provide quick and effective incineration of any chemical or biological agents. Something lost on the Chicken Little non-scentific types out there. |
| Posted by: Don 2003-01-25 21:27:50 |