Russia could resort to preventive nuclear strike: official

Moscow, Oct 14 (PTI) The new Russian military doctrine
to be shortly submitted for approval by President Dmitry
Medvedev does not rule out the 'preventive nuclear strike'
against a potential aggressor, a top Kremlin security official
Wednesday said.

"In situations critical for national security, a nuclear
strike, including a preventive one, against an aggressor is
not ruled out," Secretary of Russia's national Security
Council, General Nikolai Patrushev said in an interview to
leading daily Izvestia.

Patrushev said that the fine-tuning of the country's
military doctrine was prompted by real threats and dangers
faced by Russia.

"An option provides for the possible use of nuclear
weapons depending on the situation and the intentions of a
potential enemy," Patrushev said.

The current strictly defencive military doctrine adopted
in 2000 under President Vladimir Putin outlines the role of
the Russian military in ensuring the defence of the country
and, if necessary, preparing for and waging war.

The revised doctrine will be submitted to President
Medvedev for approval by the end of the year, the Kremlin
security czar said.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, currently in
Moscow for arms cut talks, declined to comment on Patrushev's
interview about preventive nuclear strikes.

"The US has no concept of preventive nuclear strike in
its military doctrine," Clinton said in an interview to local
"Ekho Moskvy" radio Wednesday morning and speaking through a
Russian interpreter added, "I cannot comment on what I have
not read (Patrushev's press interview)." PTI VS