-Caveat Lector- -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Australia May Face Nuclear Threat From India Date: Thu, 19 Aug 1999 10:27:02 +0930 From: Straykat <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> [Image] Thursday, August 19, 1999 http://www.theage.com.au/daily/990819/news/news23.html Australia may face nuclear threat By CHRISTOPHER KREMMER NEW DELHI, WEDNESDAY Australia could theoretically be dragged into a nuclear conflict involving India and the United States under India's draft nuclear policy released yesterday. The doctrine of ``retaliation only'' released by the Hindu nationalist government promises that India would not be the first to use nuclear weapons against states that do not possess such weapons. However, it does not offer such a pledge to countries which do have nuclear weapons or to nations allied to nuclear powers. ``India will not resort to the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons against states which do not possess nuclear weapons, or are not aligned with nuclear weapons powers,'' it says. Australia, Japan, South Korea, Germany and most member states of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation - all of which have defence treaty obligations with the US - would by implication be potential Indian targets in any nuclear exchange with the US. The document's release appears to be an attempt to revive the nuclear issue before Indians begin voting in national elections on 5 September. The government - which conducted five nuclear blasts last year and declared India a nuclear weapons state - believes the issue is a vote winner. However, India's national security adviser, Mr Brajesh Mishra, said it was hoped the doctrine's release would encourage a debate on the issues. ``This is a draft ... it will have to wait for a new government.'' A victory at the polls could be used as a green light for the doctrine, which analysts said envisaged a much more ambitious nuclear arsenal than the credible, minimum deterrent the government had previously said it required. The doctrine calls for ``sufficient, survivable and operationally prepared nuclear forces'' on aircraft, mobile land-based missiles and at sea. India's forces and their command and control system should be organised for ``very high survivability against surprise attacks and for rapid punitive response''. The bombs would be under the control of the prime minister or his successor. An undeclared border war between India and Pakistan in Kashmir, and last week's shooting down of a Pakistani maritime surveillance plane by India, have heightened concerns about the subcontinent as a nuclear flashpoint. DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
