Saturday, April 08, 2006

 

Fatwa-Man and Little Boy

OK, now we know Bush and his minions are batshit-crazy. Seymour Hersh in this week's New Yorker lays out Bushco's plan to hit Iran with tactical nukes in the near future:

The Pentagon adviser on the war on terror confirmed that some in the Administration were looking seriously at this option, which he linked to a resurgence of interest in tactical nuclear weapons among Pentagon civilians and in policy circles. He called it “a juggernaut that has to be stopped.” He also confirmed that some senior officers and officials were considering resigning over the issue. “There are very strong sentiments within the military against brandishing nuclear weapons against other countries,” the adviser told me. “This goes to high levels.” The matter may soon reach a decisive point, he said, because the Joint Chiefs had agreed to give President Bush a formal recommendation stating that they are strongly opposed to considering the nuclear option for Iran. “The internal debate on this has hardened in recent weeks,” the adviser said. “And, if senior Pentagon officers express their opposition to the use of offensive nuclear weapons, then it will never happen.”

The adviser added, however, that the idea of using tactical nuclear weapons in such situations has gained support from the Defense Science Board, an advisory panel whose members are selected by Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. “They’re telling the Pentagon that we can build the B61 with more blast and less radiation,” he said.

Keep in mind, too, that while it appears tortured confessions haven't made their way into our court proceedings (even before the FISA Court), our "intelligence" on Iran's nuclear capabilities is likely being extracted from Farsi-speakers with pliers and blowtorches. Isn't it reassuring to know that our Iran "intel" has all the earmarks of accuracy as the Confession of Agimet of Geneva? (And likely will be used for similar purposes?)

posted by Michael 12:57 PM