ULTIMATUM: US out of Mideast & $100/barrel oil - else 1 million die in nuke blast

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Here's a hypothetical, but increasingly likely situation: What if we receive an ultimatum from the terrorists. They have a nuke in a major US city. The US must remove all troops and close all bases in Mideast and start paying what they consider fair markey price for their oil: $100 per bbl.

We have one month to comply.

What do we do? Is cheap oil and being the world's only superpower worth 1,000,000 American lives?

-- Doomsday (are@we.screwed?), October 01, 2001

Answers

Quickly spend more for the "Star Wars" defense program?

-- The Toner (the.toner@home.com), October 02, 2001.

I think doomsday is speaking of 'suitcase' nukes, highly unlikely 1m will die but i'll make that assumption anyway. Unlike doomsday, I don't believe that we ought to be held 'hostage' in this way. Carter didn't know how to deal with hostages. In a war, we expect casualities. Freedom is not free.

If this were to happen, then WWIII here we come. It's fought in the Arab world and hopefully we save the oil so that we can control it.

-- Maria (anon@ymous.com), October 02, 2001.


One month to comply? Enough time to evacuate many children to safety. Also, a great opportunity to announce how much of the Middle East would be reduced to glass exactly one hour after the first nuclear explosion in any NATO country.

No more Baghdad. No more Damascus. No more Tehran. No more Libya. Several cubic miles of Afghanistan lifted into the upper atmosphere. Then $100/bbl oil would be the most natural thing in the world, so they should be pleased with their results.

-- Little Nipper (canis@minor.net), October 02, 2001.


Maria: I was being sarcastic...

On the question initially asked there are a number of follow-up questions:
- how would it be known that the threat was real and not a bluff?
- would they be handing over the nuke once the demands were met or just moving it to a new city and issuing a new demand?
(or why even bother moving it?
- if the nuke was recovered, what guarantee that they wouldn't try it again down the road?

-- The Toner (the.toner@home.com), October 02, 2001.


Sorry toner. Good questions.

-- Maria (anon@ymous.com), October 02, 2001.


Roll over and assume submissive posture. It is better to grovel than to die. Besides we are guilty. guilty, guilty!

-- (meowww @ pusilanimous.pussy), October 02, 2001.

Oh, Meowww!! LOLOLOL!!

-- Tick Tock (Time@Keeper.here), October 02, 2001.

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