Pre-emptive nuclear strike a key option

[major.tom]

---
On one hand, it's nothing new for generals to beat their chests, but this seems to take it to a whole new level:

* (key threats are) Political fanaticism and religious fundamentalism -- a not-so-veiled threat at Muslims
* Climate change and energy security, entailing a contest for resources and potential "environmental" migration on a mass scale -- ie. absolute control of the worlds oil reserves
* The weakening of the nation state as well as of organisations such as the UN, Nato and the EU -- so much for "we're all in this together"; "you're either with us or against us"
* A shift from consensus decision-taking in Nato bodies to majority voting, meaning faster action through an end to national vetoes -- ie. we do as we like; don't like it? too bad
* No role in decision-taking on Nato operations for alliance members who are not taking part in the operations -- ie. if you're not with us, your opinions have no value

Pretty shocking.

[luke]

some crazy orwellian double speak in that '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' i.e. we must use nuclear weapons first to stop nuclear weapons being used! reminds me of that guy from vietnam 'we had to destroy that village to save it!'

we're all doomed!