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ONE issue in the febrile discussion on war against Iraq has been submerged, and ought not to have been. It is the potential use of a weapon called the B61-11 earth-penetrating bomb. In the last Gulf War, bombs made little or no impression on deep bunker positions. The B61-11 certainly would, as it has a nuclear warhead. Are we in Britain and the US sure that we want to justify using nuclear weapons for the first time since Nagasaki?

I say “we” because Britain has a direct responsibility. The B61-11 would be delivered from two bombers. These are stationed on the British Indian Ocean territory of Diego Garcia, the biggest American base…

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