If Sadam were to use Chemical, Biological, and/or Nuclear Weapons what should be the U.S. response?

Some think we should respond in-kind: To forever establish the precedent that you don't want to use those weapons against the US. Many go so far as to say that we MUST use nuclear weapons as a response to forever establish such a precedent.

I was thinking about the question last night, and I decided that I think the response would be more effective deterrent if it were a diplomatic rather than a nuclear response.

I haven't lost it...Stick with me here...I'm still Scott the right wing lunatic you all know and love...

If Sadam’s forces use Chemical and/or Biological weapons, then the President should request from Congress that a formal Declaration of War be adopted. For some, this might sound risky, and politically it might be (especially for those who vote against it...I would hope).

Such a Congressional Declaration of War would, for the diplomatic community, the nation, and our military forces, formalize the resolve of the United States in the face of the use of these terror weapons.

Of course, the Formal Declaration could be followed by the JDAM carpet-bombing of the responsible units, and a whole lot more. But one thing is certain...there would be no doubt: The US was in it for keeps.

Such a diplomatic action would make more of a statement of Resolve, and set a better Precedent than to respond to such an attack with a nuclear bomb or such, while it would not rule out the nuclear possibility for this or some other conflict where the "Nuke 'em option” might be our response of last resort.

A formal declaration would send a message to all potential enemies considering the use of such weapons of Mass Destruction that if you do decide to use such weapons against the United States, then the resulting War will be TOTAL, and it WILL NOT be complete until your government is completely overthrown, your leaders dead on death row, and you military completely disarmed.

A Formal Declaration of War would also send the message to the UN (As if they needed it) to get the hell out of the way. We're going to finish this job no matter what the diplomatic community has to say, and no matter what it takes. We won’t respond to diplomatic pressure from the UN or anyone else for that matter. We will do everything necessary to win the total war.

In a sense, we would establish the precedent that we have the right to use WMD in response to a chemical, biological or nuclear attack, without actually using such WMD in response.

Scott (Trying to think more diplomatically)