Nuclear Endgame: What if the United States get's nuked?

[Geoff]

Alright, so this is the scenario:

Al Qaida operatives somehow manage to get hold of a dirty bomb either from Pakistan or from ex Soviet states, and they end up using it in any major American city.

How do you think USA would react, if:
1. President Bush is in power
2. A new Republican President is incharge
3. Democrats are incharge

Would there be an instant escalation and United States would wage war against every major muslim power? Or would the U.S. count the losses and try to secure anymore possible loose nukes in Pakistan/C.A.R. while intensifying war on Al Qaida in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere. Or would Islam and Mecca/Saudi Arabia become the target?

How do you think this would play out?

[the gunny]

Interesting question.

1st off, our reaction would be much like it was after 9/11. We declared war, and if you will remember, we defined it up front as a GLOBAL War. All military options are still on the table.

1. As for the reaction by the current administration? Hmmm, lets see, I would venture that once a nuclear device is detonated, dirty or not, this brings ours into play and the gloves are off.
2. If a new replublican President is in charge when a nuclear device is detonated, dirty or not, see answer to number one.
3. If a democrap is in office? see answer number 1.

I would think that were a nuclear device to be detonated here, those not responsible or an active participant would ensure that they would join in our efforts to locate those responsible. That they would do so only out of self-preservation is secondary. Iran, Syria and simular nations would likely rejoice should this occur, but they would also be very quick to disavow any connection to those groups or group that did, just so we wouldn't have any excuse to turn thier country into glass.

We really don't want to be at war, but will be damned if we'l just sit back and take this on the chin without a reaction at all.