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Did Bush clear n-response?

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

Washington jan. 31. The U.S. President, George W Bush, signed a document last September that specifically allows for the use of nuclear weapons by way of a response to chemical and biological attacks, says The Washington Times citing a Classified Document.

"The United States will continue to make clear that it reserves the right to respond with overwhelming force — including potentially nuclear weapons — to the use of (weapons of mass destruction) against the U.S., or forces abroad and friends and allies," says the National Security Presidential Directive 17 of September 14 last year, according to the paper. What is being pointed out is that a similar directive was issued last December by way of a National Strategy to Combat Weapons of Mss Destruction, but there is a crucial difference. Here instead of the phrase ``including potentially nuclear weapons'' the text reads "including through resort to all of our options''.

The White House has declined to comment on the Document. In the past, successive governments in Washington have deliberately been vague about the possible use of nuclear weapons; and have confined their comments to "all options'' or response with "overwhelming force''. But in the context of the showdown with Iraq, there have been reports that the Bush administration is preparing for the use of nuclear weapons, not merely by way of countering a chemical or biological attack but to "pre-empt'' Iraqi facilities that may be deeply buried and could withstand a conventional attack. The U.S. is not saying much on what the response of the U.S. will be in the event of a chemical or biological attack.

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