We're rattling the nuclear sabre again.
A draft DoD document, "Doctrine for Joint Nuclear Operations," would allow the US to use "preemptive" nuclear strikes against terrorists, or nations who "sponsor" terrorism. Depending on the quality of US intelligence and the level of honesty of the US administration, that could mean Iran or North Korea. It could also mean Venezuela, Chile, or Uruguay. It could also mean just about anyone we get a nuke jones for.
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”.And how do we know what an "enemy" is intending to do? Think about our recent examples of "knowing" what our "enemy" intended to do. This is scary.
From the Taipei Times:
A copy of the draft obtained by reporters urges US theater force commanders operating around the world to prepare specific plans for using nuclear weapons in their regions -- and outlines scenarios, under which it would be justified to seek presidential approval for a nuclear strike.
They also note that within the document
a number of scenarios allow nuclear strikes without enemy weapons of mass destruction in the equation. They could be used, for instance, to counter potentially overwhelming conventional adversaries, to secure a rapid end of a war on US terms, or simply "to ensure success of US and multinational operations," the document indicates.
The New Zealand Herald points out that the document
claims that some 30 nations have WMD programmes -- not to mention terrorists, or "non-state actors" as they are described, acting either independently or under the sponsorship of a state opposed to the US.
Like Saddam's Iraq?
This administration can't be trusted with this kind of power.
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