quote:
Originally posted by Ryanamur:
As we speak, Bush can use Nuclear weapons to fight terrorism without discussing it with either Congress or the Senate. He's already go the approval of both bodies to fight "terrorism with ALL means available to him". So, if he desired to do so, he could authorize a nuclear strike on that 30sq miles of mountain and nobody in the US chambers could say anything about it because they already approved it!
But something would be said about it, he knows it and they know it. What they said and what they meant are clear. "Do what you have to do and we're watching." The use of nuclear weapons has not been approved since 1945, and even then, before weapons of mass destruction worries, the usage was discussed with the leadership because of the weapon's previously unheard of power.
None of us know the exact requirements for the launch of nuclear weapons, but based on the lack of use, it's pretty obvious it's not as easy as one man deciding. Admittedly, the safeguards were mainly due to fear of accidentally incurring a retaliatory strike from the Soviets. I doubt those safeguards have been removed with the fall of the Soviet Union. He would consult because it's the constitutional thing to do.
BTW, will someone check and resize their post so this page will all fit on the same screen without scrolling left to right?
[ 11-18-2001: Message edited by: Ronn_Bman ]