U.S. rules out nuclear use in war with Iran

[DEFCON Warning System]

The U.S. President has publicly excluded nuclear weapons from his current contemplated military options against Iran and said he does not anticipate a ground invasion. This comes while Washington is considering additional conventional attacks on Iranian nuclear and energy infrastructure, including Pickaxe Mountain.

An explicit statement by the U.S. nuclear decision-maker that he does not intend to use nuclear weapons narrows the presently signalled U.S. escalation ladder. It does not remove the danger of major conventional escalation, and it is not an irrevocable doctrinal commitment, but it is a genuine risk-reducing indicato. The ground-troop statement reinforces the same general picture: The United States appears to be contemplating coercive air operations rather than a large-scale invasion.

 

[GBS61]

The U.S. President has publicly excluded nuclear weapons from his current contemplated military options against Iran and said he does not anticipate a ground invasion. This comes while Washington is considering additional conventional attacks on Iranian nuclear and energy infrastructure, including Pickaxe Mountain.

An explicit statement by the U.S. nuclear decision-maker that he does not intend to use nuclear weapons narrows the presently signalled U.S. escalation ladder. It does not remove the danger of major conventional escalation, and it is not an irrevocable doctrinal commitment, but it is a genuine risk-reducing indicato. The ground-troop statement reinforces the same general picture: The United States appears to be contemplating coercive air operations rather than a large-scale invasion.

Whenever President Trump speaks, I have serious doubts, given the number of lies he has told.

 

[RiffRaff]

So.... That means it was on the table prior to this statement?

And I'm forced to agree with GBS61. Trump has reversed course on so many other things in the past that the statement is practically worthless. I doubt Iran believes it either.

 

[Gargolu]

trump can turn around and use them he says one thing and flips his word. i still got a really bad feeling about this whole thing with iran. it just takes one country/nuke to turn the whole world upside down.

 

[DEFCON Warning System]

I doubt Iran believes it either.

I think Iran believes the US will not use nuclear weapons regardless of any official statement.

 

[Publius]

So.... That means it was on the table prior to this statement?

And I'm forced to agree with GBS61. Trump has reversed course on so many other things in the past that the statement is practically worthless. I doubt Iran believes it either.

I agree that one might not be surprised by any new policy statement coming from Trump.

The question then to be asked is it a purposeful statement or action. Or an indication or being indecisive and weak. Or is it deliberate step taken to create a situation of ambiguity or general uncertainness.

The question in itself with Trump is an ironically ambiguous. Trump wants to avoid kinetic confrontation almost at all cost.
But he is also not averse to listening to his military leadership and letting them do what they say they can accomplish.
From killing Solimani, crushing the ISIS cash cow of oil convoys. To snatching Maduro in his PJ from military base.
Is this truly a bad thing?

If we are uncertain about what Trump might do. What does that say about our adversaries estimation.
and is that a bad thing?

Remember by most precepts of war and conflicts deception and uncertainty is the first weapon one should employ.

 

[Gargolu]

I agree that one might not be surprised by any new policy statement coming from Trump.

The question then to be asked is it a purposeful statement or action. Or an indication or being indecisive and weak. Or is it deliberate step taken to create a situation of ambiguity or general uncertainness.

The question in itself with Trump is an ironically ambiguous. Trump wants to avoid kinetic confrontation almost at all cost.
But he is also not averse to listening to his military leadership and letting them do what they say they can accomplish.
From killing Solimani, crushing the ISIS cash cow of oil convoys. To snatching Maduro in his PJ from military base.
Is this truly a bad thing?

If we are uncertain about what Trump might do. What does that say about our adversaries estimation.
and is that a bad thing?

Remember by most precepts of war and conflicts deception and uncertainty is the first weapon one should employ.

deception indeed. keep them guessing at all cost.