Britain Will Use Nukes If It Has To

NUKEWARS

A nuclear capable Trident missile leaps from the sea after being fired by a British submarine during tests in the 1990s

London (AFP) Mar 20, 2002
Britain is prepared to use nuclear weapons against rogue states such as Iraq if they ever used "weapons of mass destruction" against British troops in the field, Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon said Wednesday.

"They can be absolutely confident that in the right conditions we would be willing to use our nuclear weapons," Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon said.

Hoon also told MPs the possibility of terrorists acquiring weapons of mass destruction was a cause for "real anxiety" and something "we would have to guard against very seriously".

Britain's nuclear arsenal may not be enough to deter dictators like Saddam Hussein from targeting the country with weapons of mass destruction, Hoon warned.

He told a parliamentary defence committee that there was a prospect that some "states of concern" -- such as Iraq or Libya -- "might be capable of targeting the UK" within a few years' time.

His comments came in evidence to the committee's inquiry into controversial US plans for a missile defence system to protect against a ballistic missile attack.

Hoon reaffirmed that, as yet, the government had not decided whether to back such a system as it had not received any firm proposal from the US.

"Although the Cold War is over, we face new, emerging threats. It is right that we consider all possible elements of a comprehensive strategy," he said.

His comments are likely to been seen as part of a "softening up" process to prepare the ground for Britain to accept the US plans -- which could cover Europe -- once they come forward with definite proposals.

Much opinion here remains deeply opposed to the scheme, fearing it could trigger a new arms race.

NUKEWARS

Saddam Hussein Calls On US To Eliminate Weapons Of Mass Destruction

Baghdad (AFP) Mar 20, 2002
President Saddam Hussein called on the US Wednesday to eliminate its weapons of mass destruction, suggesting it undergo "psychiatric supervision" for its new nuclear weapons strategy that targets seven countries, including Iraq.

SUPERPOWERS US Warned Not To Ignore Chinese Military Advances	NUKEWARS Britain Will Use Nukes If It Has To Saddam Hussein Calls On US To Eliminate Weapons Of Mass Destruction US Refuses To Certify North Korea On Nuclear Deal CIA Chief Cites Russia, China, North Korea As Proliferators
MISSILE NEWS Experts Fret Over China's Role In Weapons Proliferation North Korea Expanding Missile Sales: US General Iran Puts Off FM's Trip To Russia In Spat Over Meetings Scud "Axis" An Alliance With Missiles But No Direction	MISSILE DEFENSE Missiles In "Position" As India Mulls Further Action Against Pakistan Abm Pullout: The Phonecall That Soured Putin's Year. Or Did It? US Official Defends Plans for Missile Defense Despite Test Failure
AEROSPACE Boeing Signs Technology Development Agreement With JAI For Work On Sonic Cruiser Boeing Sonic Cruiser Completes First Wind Tunnel Tests	UAV NEWS Northrop Grumman To Begin Initial Production Of Global Hawks Aurora Flight Sciences To Help Tool Up For Global Hawk Production Northrop Grumman Awarded $41.5 Million Global Hawk Contract Boeing's Condit Downplays Prospects For Share In JSF Bounty
IRAQ WARS	MILTECH

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement