“The Pentagon has drafted a revised doctrine for the use of nuclear weapons that envisions commanders requesting presidential approval to use them to preempt an attack by a nation or a terrorist group using weapons of mass destruction. The draft also includes the option of using nuclear arms to destroy known enemy stockpiles of nuclear, biological or chemical weapons.” (Washington Post)

Anyone else find this spooky?

I do, for two reasons. One the boys and girls on the left will like, and one they probably have ignored.

First, this is vastly different stance than anything we have taken, since oh…. World War II. What’s going on? I’m not surprised that Pentagon officials want it, but I am surprised it hasn’t been immediately scrapped.

Second, what might be some of the forces behind anyone actually considering this option? Either someone has learned that another nation is planning on supporting some terrorist use of WMD on us, or this is our quick reply to China’s recent saber rattling.

I hope it’s not the latter… Cold War II anyone?