US nuclear strategy re-work: nuke anything
Overview avalable.
The US is again changing their official nuclear strategy, again easing closer to using so-called tactical nuclear weapons. Part of the text of the "new" policy reads:
``Integrating conventional and nuclear attacks will ensure the most efficient use of force and provide US leaders with a broader range of strike options to address immediate contingencies'' (page xi).
``Theatre Nuclear Weapon Use: 1) Geographic combatant commanders may request Presidential approval for use of nuclear weapons for a variety of conditions. Examples include: a) An adversary using or intending to use WMD against US, multinational or alliance forces or civilian populations. [..] d) To counter potentially overwhelming adversary conventional forces [..] e) for rapid and favorable war termination on US terms g) to demonstrate US intent and capability to use nuclear weapons'' (emphasis mine). So, basically, my translation is that commanders can ask for nuclear weapons for anything at all, with some examples cited: a) if we think they've got nuclear or biological weapons (e.g. in Iraq), d) China, e) Japan, 1945, g) just to show off.
Basically, they're revising their nuclear options to include anything at all (and, let's remember, have recently ramped up R&D to develop new weapons, including more "tactical" nukes).