NATO: Ex-defence chiefs: pre-emptive nuclear strike an option
01 January 2008
According to a manifesto for a new NATO by four former senior western commanders the west must be ready to resort to a pre-emptive nuclear attack to try to halt the "imminent" spread of weapons of mass destruction. In the words of the report (p94):
The first use of nuclear weapons must remain in the quiver of escalation as the ultimate instrument to prevent the use of weapons of mass destruction, in order to avoid truly existential dangers.
And further (p97):
It should therefore be kept in mind that technology could produce options that go beyond the traditional role of nuclear weapons in preventing a nuclear armed opponent from using nuclear weapons." (..) "Nuclear escalation is the ultimate step in responding asymmetrically, and at the same time the most powerful way of inducing uncertainty in an opponent´s mind.
The authors, generals Shakashvili (US), Naumann (Germany), Van den Breemen (Netherlands), Field Marshal Inge (UK) and Admiral Lanxade (France) paint a pretty bleak picture of the post-9/11 world and the future of NATO.
To cope with the threats (fundamentalism, fanaticism, the "dark sides" of globalization, climate change, energy security, conflicts around resources and mass scale migration) they plead for a new grand strategy and a thorough reorganization of Nato:
* A new "steering directorate" of US, European and NATO-leaders must be formed to respond rapidly to crises and end EU "obstruction" of and rivalry with NATO.
* A shift from consensus decision-taking to majority voting at all levels below the NATO Council
* Abolition of national caveats and veto's in NATO operations as far as possible
* No role in decisions on NATO-operations for members who are not taking part in a mission
* The NATO-commander in theatre should get operational command over the troops
* Pre-delegation to military commanders to launch defensive measures in case of an acute crisis such as a missile attack or cyber attack
* A cost-sharing mechanism for operations
* A so-called "Berlin Plus in Reverse" agreement with the EU to stipulate that the EU should come to the aid of NATO with non-military assets and capabilities on a case-by-case basis.
* The possibility of use of force without UN security council authorisation when immediate action is needed to protect large numbers of human beings".
According to Ron Asmus of the German Marshall Fund think-tank in Brussels, that promotes the report, "this report means that the core of the NATO establishment is saying we're in trouble, that the west is adrift and not facing up to the challenges."
The report is written under the shadow of the alliance´s current problems in Afghanistan "where NATO is at a juncture and runs the risk of failure." (p. 5)
SecurityNetwork.com, "Towards a Grand Strategy for an Uncertain World - Renewing Transatlantic Partnership"; Guardian, 22.1.08 (Ian Traynor)