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WMD threat could spark American nuclear strike
Times Online ^ | September 12, 2005 | Giles Whittell

Posted on 09/12/2005 3:51:50 PM PDT by LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget

A PRESIDENT of the United States would be able to launch pre-emptive nuclear strikes against enemies planning to use weapons of mass destruction under a revised “nuclear operations” doctrine to be signed in the next few weeks. In a significant shift after half a century of nuclear deterrence based on the threat of massive retaliation, the revised doctrine would allow pre-emptive strikes against states or terror groups, and to destroy chemical and biological weapons stockpiles.

Presidential approval would still be required for any nuclear strike, but the updated document, the existence of which was confirmed by the Pentagon at the weekend, emphasises the need for the US to adapt to a world of worsening proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) in which deterrence might fail. In that event, it states, “the United States must be prepared to use nuclear weapons if necessary”.

The Doctrine for Joint Nuclear Operations, last revised ten years ago, extends President Bush’s doctrine of pre-emptive war to cover a US nuclear arsenal that is expected to shrink to between 1,700 and 2,200 warheads by 2012.

It was drafted by the Pentagon in March and posted on the internet, but did not attract widespread attention until a report on it in The Washington Post yesterday. It has since been removed from the Department of Defence website.

It came to light as Iran insisted, in defiance of the European Union, that it would continue processing uranium at its Isfahan reactor. The US has called on the UN Security Council to impose sanctions on Tehran for failing to shelve its nuclear programme.

Referring repeatedly to “non-state actors” — parlance for terrorists — the doctrine is designed to arm the White House and US forces with a new range of threats and sanctions to counter the situation of threatened nuclear attack by al-Qaeda or one of its affiliates.

The document’s key phrase appears in a list of pre-emptive nuclear strike scenarios, the first of which is against an enemy using “or intending to use WMD”.

Elsewhere it states that “deterrence of potential adversary WMD use requires the potential adversary leadership to believe that the United States has both the ability and will to pre-empt or retaliate promptly with responses that are credible and effective”.

The 1995 version of the doctrine contained no mention of pre-emption or WMD as legitimate nuclear targets.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: iran; northkorea
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1 posted on 09/12/2005 3:51:51 PM PDT by LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget
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To: LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget

Bring it on.


2 posted on 09/12/2005 3:52:54 PM PDT by toddlintown (Your papers please.)
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To: LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget
A PRESIDENT of the United States would be able to launch pre-emptive nuclear strikes against enemies planning to use weapons of mass destruction under a revised “nuclear operations” doctrine to be signed in the next few weeks.

Perhaps those terrorist a-holes shouldn't f' with then eh?

3 posted on 09/12/2005 3:54:20 PM PDT by michigander (The Constitution only guarantees the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself.)
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To: LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget

Well SHIAAT wasnt 9/11 enough of a strike to authorize such response? I am sick of our panty waist politicians.


4 posted on 09/12/2005 3:54:45 PM PDT by partyrepub
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To: michigander
f' with us then eh?
5 posted on 09/12/2005 3:55:32 PM PDT by michigander (The Constitution only guarantees the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself.)
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To: partyrepub
The Tancredo Doctrine?
6 posted on 09/12/2005 3:56:48 PM PDT by LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget (If con is the opposite of pro, is Congress the opposite of progress?)
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To: LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget

See that is why i like him he is saying what i been thinking for years since 9/11. Let the terrorist reap what they sow.


7 posted on 09/12/2005 3:59:47 PM PDT by partyrepub
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To: LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget

Boom ~ Bump!


8 posted on 09/12/2005 4:02:19 PM PDT by blackie (Be Well~Be Armed~Be Safe~Molon Labe!)
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To: partyrepub
Well SHIAAT wasnt 9/11 enough of a strike to authorize such response?

Actually, I think the conventional strike against Afghanistan, who shielded Bin Laden, was appropriate.

There's the problem of who really did it (yeah it was the Saudis, but not directly, and we need their oil). I wouldn't go nuke unless we were either nuked or badly bio-ed ourselves. In that case, I'd take out all of the usual suspects, of course, because I would just "settle all family accounts" (Godfather I).

Bad as 9/11 was, I wouldn't have used nukes. It would have set the whole world against us--not just the Muzzies. But, given a nuke here, all bets would be off.

9 posted on 09/12/2005 4:07:22 PM PDT by Pearls Before Swine
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To: LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget
The Tancredo Doctrine?

...KEWL! LOL!..make the Terrorists/Liberals sweat.

10 posted on 09/12/2005 4:09:34 PM PDT by skinkinthegrass (Just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get you :^)
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To: LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget
Now raise that to total destruction of the muslime world in case of a WMD attack to make 'em really squirm. But I'll bet the Libs will fight this more than the terrorists themselves.
11 posted on 09/12/2005 4:12:45 PM PDT by varyouga (Reformed Kerry voter (I know, I'm a frickin' idiot))
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To: LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget
Sure sounds like it. Worked during the Cold War. I suspect that it will work now too.

Bet that 100% of terrorists in the world today rely on countries and/or governments for their existence. Those governments look the other way, or indirectly or directly support them. So, threaten those governments with retaliation of the worst kind and problem solved. It is laughable to listen to the "civilized" respond with shock when Tancredo was taken out of context. All the while they probably have terrorists living in their country.

Kicking Afghanistan's and Iraq's a$$ was a demonstration to the world that we can and will defend ourselves in the worst way if necessary. Beware!
12 posted on 09/12/2005 4:12:54 PM PDT by dhs12345 (w)
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To: LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget

Boom.


13 posted on 09/12/2005 4:14:02 PM PDT by Trajan88 (www.bullittclub.com)
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To: LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget
Targets acquired!


14 posted on 09/12/2005 4:16:52 PM PDT by airborne
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To: Pearls Before Swine
But, given a nuke here, all bets would be off.

Suppose a dirty bomb goes off in an American city...who do we nuke?

15 posted on 09/12/2005 4:21:03 PM PDT by evad ( PC KILLS--NOLA is just the latest example)
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To: evad

The DNC?


16 posted on 09/12/2005 4:28:09 PM PDT by Archon of the East ("universal executive power of the law of nature")
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To: LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget

All you gotta do is
put your mind to it
knuckle down, buckle down
do it do it do it!


17 posted on 09/12/2005 4:29:53 PM PDT by Solamente
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To: Archon of the East

or France. Same difference.


18 posted on 09/12/2005 4:41:11 PM PDT by TeddyCon
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To: evad

Start with Mecca and Medina. Then make Syria go away, just because. If we see anybody celebrating on television, they're next, thus allowing us to finally give France what they deserve. ;)


19 posted on 09/12/2005 4:43:40 PM PDT by Uncle Vlad
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To: Pearls Before Swine
Well SHIAAT wasnt 9/11 enough of a strike to authorize such response?

First, I think that should be, "Well, Shi'ite! Wasn't 9/11 enough of a strike to authorize such response?

There's the problem of who really did it...

Maybe to civilized nations there is, but we are dealing with uncivilized terrorists and terrorist sympathizers. If I remember the scenes from the Palestinian camps to 9/11 correctly, we know they sympathize with and are willing to support bint Ladin. If we simply haul out some neutron bombs and use them on the Palestinian Authority and Mekkah and Medina, the problem will go away fast. My thinking is 1,000,000 dead Sheetheaded goatf'ers dead in such a preemptive attack would only qualify as "a good start".

20 posted on 09/12/2005 4:47:35 PM PDT by Lunkhead_01
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