If the United States was hit with nuclear bombs, how do you think the American government and people would handle it?  What practices has our government put in place and accomplished to prepare the American people for this type of disaster?
137695
Govt. Response: "Confidence is high, this is not an exercise," Aboard the E-6 MERCURY (TACAMO) airborne command center: "Major Reynolds, we have reports of a major attack on the US at this time, numerous ICBMs"......"roger confirm" he tells the ground tracking commander at Beale AFB and then turns to the major and says, ".... 300 missiles in bound at this time!".\n\nStrategic bombers are scrambled, EAMs issued to Ohio Class nuclear subs, minute-man silos are given launch orders, President conducts war conference, activates nuclear 'football, and issues retaliation order, then high tails to nearest airborne command center.\n\nRadio station broadcasts are interrupted: "This is the EMERGENCY BROADCAST SYSTEM, for those of you in transit in the Kansas City area [insert your own city if its over 250,000], the Federal Emergency Management Agency advises you to proceed to this nearest shelter.  While you are in no danger, FEMA would like to go over the steps to take in the event of a probable attack...."\n\nresult: panic in the streets, run on the gas stations and grocery markets, ATMS machines fail, cell phones fail, stores only take cash, some rioting and violence begins and bumper to bumper traffic on all freeways leading out of town...that's the public's reaction.\n\nThe television stations interrupt their broadcast with unconfirmed reports of low yield kiloton nuclear bombs airburst over advancing Soviet troops in the Fulda Gap, Germany.\n\nmore panic...and chaos as people stream to the shelters and roads out of town.  \n\nAnother news bulletin from national network "...unconfirmed reports of a low yield nuclear explosion at NATO regional headquarters in..." the TV goes dead.\n\nIt's no use, an air burst explodes like a sun, with the EMP knocking out all electrical circuites in a 50-mile radius.  Soon after are the 500 kiloton explosions vaporizing everything at ground zero.\n\nIn thirty minutes 1.1 billion souls are lost in the northern hemisphere, mostly in the US, Russia, Europe, China and Japan; another 1 billion will die soon after from radioactive fallout, the northern hemisphere is plunged into agony and barbarism.  Soon after, the nuclear winter catches up to the southern hemisphere and all plant and animal life eventually die off.
345454
I think it very likely that some people will survive.  We have a great track record of tolerating and adapting to some pretty extreme conditions.  I expect there are some secret hideaways that would even allow a few folks to survive a "nuclear winter" scenario, and start repopulating without the technology.  Obviously, any less serious scenario will allow even more flexibility for means of survival.  Right now, today, I do not believe there is a practical possibility of more than two nuclear devices being detonated -- those few who might be otherworldly enough to use them do not, praise Allah and thank God, have the means to use more.  The tragic military, political, economic, and environmental consequences would immediately and eventually kill tens of millions of people, perhaps hundreds of millions, and alter the conditions of life for the billions remaining..  but "billions remaining" is a great lot of survivors to be tolerating and adapting to conditions.  We'll manage.
238836
I don't believe the local authorities ever requested a Federal State of Emergency be declared.  FEMA does not respond unless a State of Emergency is declared.  That's why you'll often see a State of Emergency declared BEFORE a hurricane hits. Well, in Florida you will.  \n\nYou conservatives are supposed to be against "big Federal government."  This is an example of letting the states run their own show. And it looks like in this case, the states did not do it right. But you can't preach "no big government" and want FEMA involved in every natural disaster at the same time.
295925
The US will only bomb.  They have no prayer of holding the country without a unified coalition of nations.  The bombing will probably take place in about another year.
139904
Unfortunately the American population are stupid. This entire 9/11 tragedy even turned my father (one of those conspiracy - down with the government people) into someone who drives around with a giant flag bumper sticker on his van and preaches military action! Instead of asking what we did to deserve such an attack. If we're seeing these things our government is doing now, what aren't we being shown?
220123
I can't speak for other American citizens, but here is what I have observed. I am too old to learn anything new, only confirm what I have known, or believed.\n1) our fereral government only knows how to react. Not to prevent.\n2) In our country, out of disaster, rises greed.\n3) Our federal government, state government and local government officials will never do the will of the common people, only the will of the rich people.\n4) Our mislead soldiers, sailors and marines have been duped again, into believing that they are defending freedom. What they are doing is defending an illusion. The illusion that the united states knows what is best for the world. They are spreading a belief. The department of defense should be defending. That is why it is not called the department of offense\n5) I agree that the perps of 9/11 should be brought to justice. Lets find them and bring them to justice already.\nThat would be justified, but that other stuff (Iraq) is based on one thing (refer to statement 3).
316214
First, this is not necessarily misguided, just not really feasible. Just as we were all up in arms on 9/12 because we were unprepared for such a disaster as planes flying into the Twin Towers, when an ICBM detonates over Sioux City we are going to be very angry again.\n\nWhile I do not disagree that we need missile defense as part of a comprehensive defense of the USA, until the technology is actually ready the idea of forcing money into it will not work. Because of the immense consequences and the relatively short time periods, this system cannot rely on human control as our current technology would require; this is not Atari's Asteroids game. We must have a system that can be able to monitor and control itself, and since we cannot master that sort of technology even for the telephone system yet, how are we supposed to trust a system with ion beams and nuclear weapons to not suddenly decide to 'kill all humans!' because it sees a flock of geese?\n\nIt is not a bad idea, just an idea that we cannot effectively put into place yet. If we were to put the technology into action that we posess now (as the President has suggested), it would not effectively protect the USA but will instead convince our leaders that we are indeed protected and that we can begin to threaten potential enemies with nuclear brinksmanship without any adverse consequences. If you think we are hated now, just wait!
575305
the us could have prevented the first 9-11 from happening, they knew before hand and chose to do nothing. So what makes anyone think they will do anything the next time something like this happens
321017
We need to but out of the worlds business and take care of ours. The world has a police force called the United Nations let them handle it if there is a problem. If things come our way then yes we need to take action.I would say that if things don't come together the next 10 generations aren't going to have much of a world because some country wants to try and blow it up. Radiation isn't a pretty thing to see and can you imagine what the children would look like from the fall out of such a weapon of mass destruction. I am a very firm believer in protecting the HOME FRONT if thing happen, but lets not be the one to start it.
41739
I THINK THAT YOUR COUNTRY'S DIRECTION IN THE NUCLEAR AGE IS DEPENDANT ON HOW THE PROGRAM IS BASED AND IMPLIMENTED. HOW IT CAN BE GUIDED AND MONITORED FOR SAFETY VIOLATION'S AND UPGRADES. I DO NOT WANT FOR YOUR COUNTRY TO GET UPSET AT CURRENT EVENT'S AND STRIKE ONE OF IT'S ENEMY'S WITH A NUCLEAR WEAPON JUST BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE CAPABILITY.
221890
It would make Katrina and 9/11 look like a walk in the park.\nI think they will do it when they can hit at least three major population centers. They like to have multiple targets.\nStock market crashes.\nMillions die.\nMillions stuck on roads not moving, trying to escape, dying of thirst.\nThe target areas unlivable for at least 100 years in a radius of 100 miles.\n\nI can't imagine why something awful like this has not happened yet. I think they take all the time they need to set it up just right.\nThe only reason I can see is that the terrorists are all in Iraq, so in a sad way, the war in Iraq is protecting us from getting hit again at home.\nWe do not have a functioning federal government-either congress, executive branch, FBI or CIA-- so any help or protection is not there.\n\nThe terrorists are astute enough to know that they have easy pickings right now. The next president won't be (CAN'T be) so incompetent. It may come while Bush is still in office.
524905
I believe a day of reckoning is soon at hand.  How much can the American people take?  We get attacked and condemned when we help others.  We are taxed to death and give billions to governements that squander our money.  Anyone can come into this country and get treated better than a citizen.  One of the next times any terrorists attack us, watch a backlash.  Personally, I am in favor of putting a wall around our nation and keeping everyone out.  Any nation or people that attack or condem us, gets nothing from us.  Let the terrorists kill each other.  Keep our tax dollars here and take care of our citizens who are hungry and need medical care.  If anyone sneaks into our country throw them back to where they came from.  If they do it a second time. shoot them.  I am tired of our nations being a patsy.
313199
I have not seen this but i can only imagine the theory behind 9/11.  I know that it was not by accident that the twin towers came a tumblin down...but i also know that it would never have happened if the gov't wasn't in on it. It is just to tragic and too big of a game for it to happen on American soil.
363074
Nobody at all should have nukes. How can the US and other nuclear powers yell at these upstarts that want the same nuclear weaponry that the current nuclear powers have access to?\n\nIt's like a parent telling his kids not to smoke while puffing away on a cigarette.
349576
I am sure our country has war games on these concepts.  The US has its own ways of shutting down grids.  We don't seem to be so good at starting our own up when it's been closed down.  Keeping power available in an emergency seems to be beyond what the government can provide us at this time.  Individuals and families must make their own arrangements <not likely>.We should all be armed and trained, too.  \n\nIt seems to me that Russia and China would be more than willing to use biological and/or chemical weapons.  Most of us just aren't ready for strong winds or rain, let alone a war.
544559
It's funny how people say, if it happens it happens.  BS!  Things change, and the USA won't be the way it is today forever.  We will need from those countries who's people we don't want.  Hey, I know that when we get nuked, and if I survive, I'm running straight for Mexico!  Hopefully they'll accept me.
166288
People were warned but I do think the city officials should have provided transportation and other means to help evacuate the city. Looks to me like when a disaster strikes or if we have another terrorist attack, it will be ever man for himself. You just can't depend on the government to save lives.