WOMEN'S INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE FOR PEACE AND FREEDOM (AUSTRALIA) MEDIA RELEASE - 11/3/02
A classified Pentagon briefing paper recently leaked to the US media calls for marked changes in US nuclear posture. Until now, US nuclear policy (to use nuclear weapons as a last resort) has been based around the use of nuclear weapons as deterrents. A secret "Nuclear Posture Review" would expand the kinds of situations in which the US would be prepared to countenance the use of nuclear weapons by its military. The Review states that nuclear weapons could be used by the US in three types of situations: against targets able to withstand non-nuclear attack; in retaliation for attack with nuclear, biological or chemical weapons; or "in the event of surprising military developments." The report also identifies seven countries against which the US would be prepared to use its nuclear armoury. Consistent with recent changes in foreign policy, this Nuclear Posture Review, if adopted, would see yet another sharp move towards increased US unilateralism. Refusal to participate in the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty; an announced intention to withdraw from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty; and commitment to the National Missile Defence system have all signalled a renewed unilateralist inclination in the US. "These suggested changes to US policy on the use of nuclear weapons are provocative in the extreme and, if adopted, could only be regarded as irresponsible," says Mary Ziesak of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF). "If this review is adopted, the US would be giving itself carte blanche to use nuclear weapons even against nation states which possess only conventional weapons. Despite US denials, this new policy review would amount to nuclear weapons being regarded as conventional battlefield weapons. "These are moves which would make the use of nuclear weapons more likely and could only result in increased international tensions. "We need to be reducing political and military tensions not increasing them," says Ms Ziesak. "This new nuclear posture would diminish the safety of all, including the safety of Australian citizens. At Pine Gap, Australia hosts a base which plays its part in the US nuclear war fighting strategy. There is ample room for a middle ranking power on the international stage such as Australia to stand up against these belligerent and provocative moves on the part of the US. WILPF believes that the Australian Government now needs to take a firm stand against the changes proposed in this policy review." Contact: Cathy Picone 08 8296 4357 -- . -- -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Archived at http://www.cat.org.au/lists/leftlink/ Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink