WMD threat could spark American nuclear strike

[ECH1969]

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.

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.

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”.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,11069-1776250,00.html

[Atman]

1. In Bush's evil mind, killing a hundred thousand non-Americans...

...would be "uplifting" to the psyche of the American people. I'm not entirely joking. I think the sick fuck and his sick fuck crony cabinet are just that ill. Sick in the head enough to consider a nuke attack on a bunch of Middle Easterners to be a worthy diversion. After all, they're only those Ay-rabs, right? 'Murkins don't like them Ay-rabs 'cuz of what they did to us on 9/11 (which changed everything).

Not to mention even more business for Halliburton and Bechtel. Probably even some health care biz in there for Frist. After all, Bush is all about creating jobs. For his cronies.

[stepnw1f]

2. Fear, Fear, Fear, Fear....

and fear.

[BeHereNow]

3. "Duck and cover.."

and kiss your life good-bye.

This is terrifying.

BHN

[indepat]

4. Neocons can read their minds

[bowens43]

5. These evil fucks in the administartion need to be taken down.

We have to get these assholes out of office before it'sa too late.

[FyurFly]

6. I'm honestly scared

In light of recent events, I don't doubt for a second that jackass would start WW3.

[FlemingsGhost]

7. I'm not afraid. In fact, I'm calling their bluff

This is more Bushit fearmongering.

So, NeoCons ... I call. What do you got?

[Ready4Change]

8. Pre-emptive Nuclear Strike.

Is this an administration we can trust with this option?

Not IMHO. Not even close.

[dweller]

9. 'Splain it to me like i'm 5 years old.

What's to stop another country from seeing US as a threat?

and strikes first?

dp

[anotherdrew]

10. this "doctrine" would have killed us all if they'd had it in the 50s

So many were totally ready to nuke the USSR, this kinds of 'doctrine' wouldn't even have been spoken of since it would beg a surprise first strike from the Russians. Frankly - it still might.

[anotherdrew]

11. it's Nuclear Winter vs Gobal Warming, who will win?

not me

[PATRICK]

14. At many levels

we DID have it. See the Pentagon Papers. The war rooms of both sides were howling for this under the shaky leadership of their pols.

In the crazy quilt of pre-emtpers and "not sure" semi-sane people we managed to survive.

So has the craziness. So have the nukes.

[teryang]

12. Nothing new, same policy pronouncements before Iraq war

This is sabre rattling, call it insane sabre rattling. Iran made some vague non-specific threats a day or two ago about referring their legal nuclear activity to the security counsel. This is the insane neo-con response.

They know the break out of an Iranian embargo at this point will cripple our economy. A conventional conflict while not out of the question with the nutcases we have running our government, would be political diaster for the American ruling class.

They're talking scared now, very scared.

[RaleighNCDUer]

13. Problem is, before Iraq we still had an army.

Now the nuke option is the only one, and I don't think that * would hesitate to use it.

[teryang]

15. Right, this was understood before the war was begun

...by committing the bulk of the armed forces land war capability to Iraq, the only thing left to respond to a military challenge elsewhere was a nuclear response.

The truth is our ability to project power on land, expecially in Asia is pathetic. The numbers of our Armed forces are way down, but the budget is WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY UP! That is because most of the money ends up in the hands of private defense contractors, bush and cheney cronies and war profiteers. This is what it is all about.

[Lochloosa]

16. Unfortunately, I tend to agree with you...

[Timmy5835]

17. Bush may push the button......

......but would the U.S. military respond? Think about it.

[thecrow]

19. I think they could find *somebody* to heed the call.

There are crazies in diverse places these days.

[Massacure]

18. Launching a nuclear missile at North Korea may scare China...

I smell trouble...

[TankLV]

20. God help us all!

Please, won't somebody rid us of this meddlesome priest?!

[okieinpain]

21. you know I'm really sure that bush is going to use a nuclear weapon

on someone before he leaves office. I just have a feeling that he's going to do it. and the after effects will be just as fucked up as irag.

[despairing optimist]

22. Bush nukes first. Osama nukes second.

NYC gone like NO. Another Democratic stronghold. Bush rallies the country and gets rid of a city he hates. Two birds felled with one stone.

No wonder Condi got her shopping done early.