Hoon threatens to use nuclear weapons against Iraq

In a major change of policy Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon indicated that he was prepared to use nuclear weapons against Iraq. Speaking to the House of Commons Defence Committee he said that Iraq "can be absolutely confident that in the right conditions we would be willing to use our nuclear weapons" The statement was made in the context of a possible attack using chemical or biological weapons. It was also extended to include a possible nuclear attach by Britain on Iran, Libya or North Korea.

The British statement follows the leaking of details of a US Nuclear Policy Review which also anticipates the use of nuclear weapons in response to a chemical or biological attack and other circumstances. Scottish CND made a submission to the current MoD Defence Review urging Britian not to follow the new US policy.

Christine Kucia, an analyst with the British American Security Information Council said: "What Mr Hoon is saying is hugely significant, and shows that the British Government is fundementally changing its views on nuclear proliferation."

The threat or use of nuclear weapons against a state which has no nuclear weapons and which is not allied to a nuclear state would be a clear breach of the nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty. The NPT is the main mechanism to prevent more countries from aquiring the bomb. The Treaty has two elements - it is designed to prevent more countries from aquiring the technology to make nuclear weapons, but it also places constraints on existing nuclear weapons powers. The recent statements indicate that both Britain and the US are prepared to abandon their side of the bargain. This may undermine any attempt to enforce the other side of the Treaty. There will be a major international review of the NPT on 8- 19 April.

Mr Hoon stressed the threat posed by Iraq and the other "rogue states". This was seen by some MPs as part of a built up to Britain giving the go ahead to the US to use two bases in Yorkshire for part of the "Star Wars" missile defence programme. While Mr Hoon reiterated the line that no approach has yet been made by the US, the tone of what he was saying was interpreted by some MPs as indicating that the MoD were prepared to back US Missile Defence plans, despite widespread concern on amongst backbench MPs.