bobdina
06-24-2010, 02:10 PM
U.S. considered nuclear strike on N. Korea in '69
Declassified documents reveal retaliation options for downed spy
The United States studied a plan for a nuclear strike on North Korea in 1969, but advisers to then-president Richard Nixon concluded it was best to remain calm, declassified documents showed Wed-nesday.
The documents, obtained by the National Security Archive at George Washington University, foreshadow present U.S. frustration on how to handle North Korea.
In 1969, North Korea shot down a U.S. spy aircraft over the Sea of Japan, killing the 31 personnel on board. Despite U.S. outrage, the new Nixon administration chose only to order a continuation of spy flights and go ahead with naval exercises.
The documents, released after requests under the Freedom of Information Act, showed that the administration had charted a series of options that included conventional and nuclear attacks.
In one contingency plan codenamed "Freedom Drop," the United States would use tactical nuclear weapons to destroy military command centres, airfields and naval bases in North Korea.
Civilian casualties "would range from approximately 100 to several thousand," said a classified memorandum by then-defence secretary Melvin Laird which was prepared for Henry Kissinger, Nixon's national security adviser.
There is no indication that the administration seriously considered a nuclear strike.
In a document recounting a White House meeting, Kissinger is quoted as saying "The need is to look determined and, if the object is to prevent counter-responses, the action taken should be (a) powerful blow."
© Copyright (c) The Ottawa Citizen
Read more: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/life/Somnia/3193596/story.html#ixzz0rnN1p1wO
Declassified documents reveal retaliation options for downed spy
The United States studied a plan for a nuclear strike on North Korea in 1969, but advisers to then-president Richard Nixon concluded it was best to remain calm, declassified documents showed Wed-nesday.
The documents, obtained by the National Security Archive at George Washington University, foreshadow present U.S. frustration on how to handle North Korea.
In 1969, North Korea shot down a U.S. spy aircraft over the Sea of Japan, killing the 31 personnel on board. Despite U.S. outrage, the new Nixon administration chose only to order a continuation of spy flights and go ahead with naval exercises.
The documents, released after requests under the Freedom of Information Act, showed that the administration had charted a series of options that included conventional and nuclear attacks.
In one contingency plan codenamed "Freedom Drop," the United States would use tactical nuclear weapons to destroy military command centres, airfields and naval bases in North Korea.
Civilian casualties "would range from approximately 100 to several thousand," said a classified memorandum by then-defence secretary Melvin Laird which was prepared for Henry Kissinger, Nixon's national security adviser.
There is no indication that the administration seriously considered a nuclear strike.
In a document recounting a White House meeting, Kissinger is quoted as saying "The need is to look determined and, if the object is to prevent counter-responses, the action taken should be (a) powerful blow."
© Copyright (c) The Ottawa Citizen
Read more: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/life/Somnia/3193596/story.html#ixzz0rnN1p1wO