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Penatagon works on its nuclear strike rules

A draft pentagon doctrine that would enable pre-emptive use of nuclear weapons is likely to be signed in a few weeks

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WASHINGTON: A draft pentagon doctrine that would enable pre-emptive use of nuclear weapons is likely to be signed in a few weeks, amid protests from US politicians and experts who described it as disturbing and provocative.

If approved, the draft would allow commanders to seek presidential approval for using atomic arms against nations or terrorists who the US thinks intend to use chemical, nuclear or biological weapons against US, its troops or its allies.

The draft prepared under the direction of Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen Richard Myers is going through final clearance from military services and Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld’s office, according to a spokesman for the Joint Staff, who added it was expected to be signed “in a few weeks” by Joint Staff Director, Lt Gen Walter L. Sharp.

The draft document would upda te rules and procedures for using nuclear weapons to reflect a pre-emption strategy announced by Bush Administration in 2002. Previous versions of the doctrine had not included scenarios for using nuclear weapons pre-emptively or specifically against WMD threats.

The unclassified draft, “Doctrine for Joint Nuclear Operations,” was first put on the Pentagon Web site but was removed last week after its contents were publicised.

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