(April 9, 2006)
American and European intelligence agencies, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (I.A.E.A.), agree that Iran is intent on developing the capability to produce nuclear weapons. (…)
One of the militaryâs initial option plans, as presented to the White House by the Pentagon this winter, calls for the use of a bunker-buster tactical nuclear weapon, such as the B61-11, against underground nuclear sites. (…)
The lack of reliable intelligence leaves military planners, given the goal of totally destroying the sites, little choice but to consider the use of tactical nuclear weapons. âEvery other option, in the view of the nuclear weaponeers, would leave a gap,â the former senior intelligence official said. â âDecisiveâ is the key word of the Air Forceâs planning. Itâs a tough decision. But we made it in Japan.â
He went on, âNuclear planners go through extensive training and learn the technical details of damage and falloutâweâre talking about mushroom clouds, radiation, mass casualties, and contamination over years. This is not an underground nuclear test, where all you see is the earth raised a little bit. These politicians donât have a clue, and whenever anybody tries to get it outââremove the nuclear optionââtheyâre shouted down.â