[Peace-discuss] proposal to NATO: "pre-emptive" nuclear strikes, "without ratification by the UN", and even "abandoning consensus decision making [within NATO]"

[Stuart Levy]

Seen in theregister.co.uk, drawn from The Telegraph (UK).
I haven't seen this mentioned elsewhere.  Has anyone heard of this appalling
proposal in the US press?

`... nuclear war fighting, albeit limited in scope, might become possible ...'
How would that limit get set, now?


   http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/01/22/nato_nuke_proposal/

or, original Telegraph story at:

   http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;jsessionid=0WBIK4WKC1ELDQFIQMFCFGGAVCBQYIV0?xml=/news/2008/01/22/wnato122.xml

Here's The Register's version:

A group of former senior military officials has said that Nato must be prepared
to launch pre-emptive nuclear strikes to "ward off the use of weapons of mass
destruction by its enemies", the Telegraph reports.

The authors of the "blueprint for reforming Nato" - which was written after its
authors were "briefed by senior serving military officials who are unable to
speak publicly about their concerns with Nato's military strategy" - include
the former British chief of the defence staff, Lord Peter Inge, and US General
John Shalikashvili, former Nato commander in Europe and chairman of the US
joint chiefs of staff.

In it, they stress the need to rethink "Nato's approach to defending its
members and their interests" and describe first-strike nukes as an
"indispensible instrument" against foes bearing WMDs. The report says: "The
risk of further proliferation is imminent and, with it, the danger that nuclear
war fighting, albeit limited in scope, might become possible.

"The first use of nuclear weapons must remain in the quiver of escalation as
the ultimate instrument to prevent the use of weapons of mass destruction."

Inge reportedly comments: "To tie our hands on first use or no first use
removes a huge plank of deterrence."

To make the pre-emptive strike option viable, the report proposes a major
shake-up of the way Nato operates, including "abandoning consensus decision
making so fast action can be taken without the threat of vetoes and caveats
imposed by some nations".

It also suggests military action "without ratification by the UN" when
"immediate action is needed to protect large numbers of human beings".

The report, which has been delivered to Nato and Pentagon officials, may be
discussed at a Nato summit in Bucharest in April, the Telegraph notes.