Only A-Bomb Could Destroy Libya Plant, Scientist Says

One of the Pentagon’s top scientists said Tuesday that if the United States wants to destroy a suspected chemical weapons plant in Libya, as it has threatened, it will have to use nuclear weapons because ordinary bombs cannot penetrate the underground site.

Harold P. Smith Jr., an assistant to Defense Secretary William J. Perry, made the remark during a breakfast session with reporters in response to questions about how the United States might go about destroying the plant if Libya insists on completing it over Washington’s objections.

Perry asserted last week that the United States would not allow Libya to finish the facility, and later he all but encouraged reporters to take his remarks as a threat to bomb the plant if necessary. Some officials said then that ordinary bombs could do the job.

Smith said Tuesday that the military is trying to develop a conventional warhead capable of penetrating underground sites but currently has only a nuclear warhead, known as the B-61, that is capable.

“If we wanted to destroy [the Libyan plant], B-61 will be the nuclear weapon of choice,” he declared.

Shortly after Smith’s remarks, Pentagon spokesman Kenneth H. Bacon told reporters at a briefing that it is “premature” to talk about military options because Washington is likely to try diplomatic initiatives and economic sanctions first.

Nevertheless, the scientist’s comments constituted one of the few times since the Cold War ended that a Pentagon official has even implied, at least publicly, that the United States might resort to nuclear weapons.

Washington issued a similar threat in 1991 after learning that Iraq might be planning to use chemical weapons against U.S. troops during the Persian Gulf War. Iraqi President Saddam Hussein ultimately backed away from deploying such weapons.

Bacon said Tuesday that the United States is seeking to improve the ability of the B-61 to penetrate underground sites and also is trying to develop a conventional bomb that would incinerate an underground target and seal it off.

Smith said the new B-61 is expected to be ready by the end of this year--about the time the Libyan plant is scheduled to be nearly completed. Two tests of the conventional weapon ended with the bomb proving to be a dud, he added. A third test will be conducted before the end of this year, but it could be two years after that before the weapon is ready for use.

The Libyan facility identified by U.S. intelligence is being built in a mountain near Tarhunah, about 40 miles southeast of Tripoli. Libyan leader Moammar Kadafi has insisted that it is part of a water project.

CIA Director John M. Deutch has told Congress it is the largest chemical-weapons plant of its type in the world. The Pentagon published an artist’s rendering of the facility last week, based on satellite photographs.

Perry said in a speech Tuesday that the administration will not necessarily stop at diplomatic and economic measures to prevent Libya, Iraq and Iran from developing chemical, nuclear or biological weapons.

“If necessary, the United States is fully prepared to take other, more drastic, preventive measures,” he said, clearly alluding to the possibility of using military force.