Bush looking at use of nuclear weapons
Against targets which are able to withstand non-nuclear attack
In retaliation for nuclear, biological or chemical weapons attack
In the event of 'surprising military developments'
WASHINGTON - The Bush administration has directed the military to prepare contingency plans to use nuclear weapons against at least seven countries and to build new smaller nuclear weapons for use in certain battlefield situations, according to a classified Pentagon report obtained by the Los Angeles Times.
The secret report, which was provided to Congress on Jan 8, says the Pentagon needs to be prepared to use nuclear weapons against China, Russia, Iraq, North Korea, Syria, Iran and Libya.
It says the weapons could be used in three types of situations: against targets able to withstand non-nuclear attack, in retaliation for attack with nuclear, biological or chemical weapons, or 'in the event of surprising military developments'.
A copy of the report was obtained by defence analyst and Times contributor William Arkin.
Officials have long acknowledged that they had detailed nuclear plans for an attack on Russia.
However, this 'Nuclear Posture Review' apparently marks the first time that an official list of potential target countries has come to light, analysts said.
Some predicted the disclosure would set off strong reactions from governments of the target countries.
'This is dynamite,' said Mr Joseph Cirincione, a nuclear-arms expert at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington. 'I can imagine what these countries are going to be saying at the UN.'
Arms-control advocates said the report's directives on development of smaller nuclear weapons could signal that the Bush administration is more willing to overlook a longstanding taboo against the use of nuclear weapons except as a last resort.
They warn that such moves could dangerously destabilise the world by encouraging other countries to believe that they, too, should develop weapons.
'They're trying desperately to find new uses for nuclear weapons, when their uses should be limited to deterrence,' said Mr John Isaacs, president of the Council for a Livable World. 'This is very very dangerous talk.'
But some conservative analysts said the Pentagon must prepare for all possible contingencies, especially now, at a time when dozens of countries, and some terrorist groups, are engaged in secret weapons-development programmes.
They argued that smaller weapons have an important deterrent role because many aggressors might not believe that the United States forces would use multi-kiloton weapons that would wreak huge devastation on surrounding territory and friendly populations.
'We need to have a credible deterrence against regimes involved in international terrorism and development of weapons of mass destruction,' said Mr Jack Spencer, a defence analyst with the conservative Heritage Foundation in Washington.
Congress requested the reassessment of the US nuclear posture in September 2000. The last such review was conducted in 1994 by the Clinton administration.
The new report, signed by Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld, is now being used by the US Strategic Command in the preparation of a nuclear war plan. --Los Angeles Times |
