Just exactly how does the American Public know for certain which weapons can and will be used?
Paul In Saudi stated:*
The US has no usable chemical weapons. Full stop.*
Are you absolutely 100% certain of this?
Broomstick mentioned the*
VX nerve gas depot in southern Indiana*
and 99.999% of Americans were oblivious to this until the events of Sept 11, 2001 made it necessary for its existence to be known, to be avoided and why. Maybe that location also has stockpiles of usable chemical weapons. How would we know?
Perhaps the best example of government weapon secrecy was Vice President Harry Truman’s learning of America’s atomic bomb project only after he became President.
To be truthful, I am glad “official” policies are vague and non-specific. As others have said, it makes nations and terrorist organizations think twice before they act. Although there is no “official” US policy, as Paul In Saudi said:
"it is desirable to have a reputation as a man who ‘you just don’t know what he might do.’
Supposedly, US nuclear submarines no longer have the capability to launch their missiles without Presidential authorization. I hope that this “official” policy is not the actual policy. Hostile countries should have it set in their minds that no matter how thorough their attack on America might be, their country will be so thoroughly demolished that it will fit into one dustpan - and have room left over.