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GOP Congressman Suggests Limited Nuclear Retaliation
CNS News ^ | 10/18/01 | Jim Burns

Posted on 10/18/2001 12:24:31 PM PDT by truthandlife

Emphasizing that his idea is just an option, Rep. Steve Buyer (R-Ind.) believes the United States should consider using tactical nuclear weapons against Osama bin Laden's terrorist network in Afghanistan if that network is linked to the recent anthrax incidents in the United States.

Buyer, a Persian Gulf war veteran and member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee thinks small, specialized nuclear weapons, not as powerful as the atom bombs that were dropped on Japan in World War Two, could be used on the caves where members of bin Laden's network have taken shelter.

However, Buyer emphasized that the use of the weapons would only be a proper response if bin Laden's people are linked to the anthrax cases in Florida, Washington, New York and elsewhere in the United States.

"Don't send special forces in there to sweep. We'd be very naive to believe that biotoxins and chemical agents were not in these caves. Put a tactical nuclear device in and close these caves for a thousand years," said Buyer in an interview with Indianapolis television station WRTV.

Buyer stressed that he doesn't advocate the use of full-power nuclear bombs, but acknowledged that much of the world wouldn't see the difference.

Buyer's press secretary, Laura Zuckerman, told CNSNews.com Thursday, "This is not an option that the congressman has called upon the White House or anybody of the military operations to take. He is just saying he would support it, if this an option that they would like to take.

"He's not advocating nuclear war. He's a gulf war veteran, he knows the horrors of war and he would never look to escalate something in this way. If they [were] quelled somewhat by the threat of a nuclear attack, then the threat itself might be enough," said Zuckerman.

Last Sunday on CBS' 60 Minutes, National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice said the United States would remain on high alert for some time although there were no specific terrorist threats, she said, nor any evidence that terrorists had gotten their hands on nuclear weapons.

"There are reports of all kinds of things, some true and some not. But there's no reason for the American people at this point to fear a specific threat of that kind. We have no credible evidence of a specific threat of that kind," Rice said.


TOPICS: Breaking News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
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To: kingh99
you are incorrect. if taliban had nukes in the US, they would have been detonated by now, so there goes your argument...
21 posted on 10/18/2001 12:49:31 PM PDT by Capt.YankeeMike
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To: truthandlife
Buyer is a sleeper among the Republicans, I think. He will (or should) make a name for himself in national leadership soon. In addition to being a Gulf War vet, he was one of the managers in the impeachment trial. He is in a fairly safe Republican district that has has been carved out of Inidiana. So he should be able to serve in Congress just about as long as he wants to. He's MY representative, and am proud that he serves our interests in the House.
22 posted on 10/18/2001 12:52:25 PM PDT by daves_brother
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To: truthandlife
Let's ROLL!
23 posted on 10/18/2001 12:53:22 PM PDT by kapn kuek
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To: StoneColdGOP
yes.
24 posted on 10/18/2001 12:53:44 PM PDT by Rustynailww
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To: KellyAdmirer
Buyer's comments only continue the American mania of having bloodless victories.

So do you believe that it was wrong for us to save American lives in WWII by using nukes on Japan?

25 posted on 10/18/2001 12:54:15 PM PDT by truthandlife
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To: truthandlife
I'm with this guy.
26 posted on 10/18/2001 12:54:28 PM PDT by lds23
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To: daves_brother
Inidiana = Indiana (oops)
27 posted on 10/18/2001 12:55:47 PM PDT by daves_brother
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To: truthandlife
These idiots are getting more and more brazen!
28 posted on 10/18/2001 12:55:53 PM PDT by Rowdee
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To: truthandlife
I have long felt that the use of chemical or biological agents against the US should be met with a nuclear response.
29 posted on 10/18/2001 12:56:06 PM PDT by The Great RJ
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To: truthandlife
Already Posted: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/fr/551193/posts

THE AGENDA EXPRESS





30 posted on 10/18/2001 12:57:10 PM PDT by agenda_express
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To: kingh99
absolutely insane to be the first to use tact nukes. It would give cover to the enemy to use nukes on home soil.

If I read you correctly, I disagree with you. If binL has 'em, he will use 'em. Why should we take a second hit of innocence and instead of 7,000 it will be 70,000 or even the next exponent of that. Take him out FIRST. We were the FIRST to take out Japanese empire '45...

31 posted on 10/18/2001 1:00:00 PM PDT by Sara Dorian
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To: Goatroper
Do a search for B61-11, the nuke bunker buster. Made to order for what the Congressman is suggesting. I'd love it.

Here it is: http://www.sandia.gov/LabNews/LN08-01-97/b61_story.html

Personally, I'd like something a bit bigger, say 25 megatons or so.

Nukem

32 posted on 10/18/2001 1:00:01 PM PDT by Alas
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To: truthandlife
No, the WWII A-bombs are easily defensible - and still look at the endless controversy even now over their use. It was a first use, before the world was armed to the teeth with nukes, ended a world war, and saved hundreds of thousands of American lives. All the other major powers were not just supporting us, but actually had ground forces in operation. Here, none of those facts apply.

What do you suppose the Chinese and Indians would think when nuclear clouds float over their territory afterward? How would you feel about your family drinking contaminated milk for the next few years?

33 posted on 10/18/2001 1:00:40 PM PDT by KellyAdmirer
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To: truthandlife
When will the good people of Indiana WAKE UP and elect this guy over Evan Gay.
34 posted on 10/18/2001 1:00:59 PM PDT by Clemenza
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To: truthandlife

Volley Up!! Fire!!

Atomic Cannon

35 posted on 10/18/2001 1:05:07 PM PDT by FresnoDA
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To: truthandlife
Man is a funny sort of creature...

Before he ever does something in the 'real world', he does it in his head.

The act of 'Speaking' about something, even as a remote possibility, automatically advances people more than halfway toward 'Doing' it.

One of the ways in which this reality is validated is demonstrated by the virtually universal use by governments of 'trial balloons'. Even repressive regimes often run ideas up the flagpole and take note of whether they draw any salutes.

An unwillingness to use trial balloons as one instrument of policy decision making, in fact, is a good indicator that the regime involved is not long for the world.

The murdering sand goblins simply went too far. And, like the doomed characters in a Greek tragedy, they are busily compounding their error in virtually every way that they are able to.

There's a symmetry, a predictable harmony to what is developing...

1) "Nuke Em?"

2) "We'll Nuke Em if..."

3) "Nuke Em!"

4) "We Nuked Em because..."

We're at step 2 now, just a few spores, a bit of soldier’s blood, an atrocity away from step 3. The question is no longer whether we will use nukes in this struggle, but whether any realistic possibility remains that we won’t.

36 posted on 10/18/2001 1:06:25 PM PDT by DWSUWF
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To: RetiredArmy
it was john kerry... and he is NOT from texas... for godsake man get a grip... if we blame texans for kerry, they might decide to take up their old status as the texas republic... we need 'em right now to keep our own coalition here together... don't messshh wi teksus.

< /sarcasm >

Repeat for all texans, we know YOU did not send us Kerry... please forgive us....

37 posted on 10/18/2001 1:08:15 PM PDT by eccl1212
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To: agenda_express
America currently and indisputably occupies the moral high-ground with respect to Bin-Ladin and the Taliban regime in conducting its reponse to terrorism. No resonable criticism can be advanced against a US conventional military response to the death of thousands of civilians regardless of the amount of collateral damage it generates. Using nuclear weapons would instantly revoke this moral standing without necessarily advancing any military goal. Irradiating portions of the Afghan countryside for a few thousand years simply isn't a worthwhile endeavor.
38 posted on 10/18/2001 1:08:25 PM PDT by Pitchfork
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To: Clemenza
"When will the good people of Indiana WAKE UP and elect this guy over Evan Gay."

AMEN TO THAT!

39 posted on 10/18/2001 1:08:27 PM PDT by agenda_express
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To: Pitchfork
Pitchfork - member since October 18th, 2001
40 posted on 10/18/2001 1:10:02 PM PDT by agenda_express
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