Doctrine for Joint Nuclear Operations

The Pentagon's unclassified draft of the planning document, Doctrine for Joint Nuclear Operations, which was reported September 11, 2005, to be posted online, [http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=1113918&C=america&P=true was removed] September 19, 2005, Pentagon spokesman Lawrence DiRita told Agence France Presse. The "document was taken down 'because even in an unclassified world this is not the kind of thing you want flying around the Internet'," DiRita said.

The Doctrine "envisions the use of nuclear weapons to deter terrorists from using weapons of mass destruction against the United States or its allies." 

The Draft Document
The 69-page draft document dated March 15, 2005, "last updated 10 years ago," was being "updated to reflect the doctrine of pre-emption" declared by President George W. Bush in 2002. The Doctrine "makes clear that 'the decision to employ nuclear weapons at any level requires explicit orders from the president. ... But it says that in a changing environment 'terrorists or regional states armed with WMD will likely test U.S. security commitments to its allies and friends.' ... In response, the U.S. needs a range of capabilities to assure friend and foe alike of its resolve," the Associated Press reported September 11, 2005.

Documents
All of the following documents are posted on the Global Security website.


 * Joint Publication 3-12: ""Doctrine for Joint Nuclear Operations", April 29, 1993.
 * Joint Publication 3-12: "Doctrine for Joint Nuclear Operations", Final Coordination, September 12, 2003 (Draft).
 * Joint Publication 3-12: "Doctrine for Joint Nuclear Operations", Final Coordination (2), March 15, 2005.

Related SourceWatch Resources

 * Bush doctrine
 * Geneva Conventions
 * nuclear weapons
 * preemptive war
 * war on terrorism