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Article: U.S. considered using radiological weapons, '50 CIA document shows.(Knight Ridder Newspapers)
- Article from:
- Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service
- Article date:
- February 19, 2002
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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KANSAS CITY, Mo. _ The United States considered using radiological weapons in Saudi Arabia as a way to preserve that country's oil if it was invaded by the Soviet Union, according to a recently declassified 1950 CIA memorandum.
The idea of using radiological weapons, which would spread radioactive particles without a nuclear blast, came as the Truman administration groped for a way to prevent a Soviet invasion force from using the Saudi oil or destroying the oil fields.
In the memorandum, the CIA ultimately recommended against the use of radiological weapons, but not for technical reasons.
Instead, the agency concluded that the Soviets would ...