[kingu]

Wow, perfect timing. I was trying to explain to someone today what the effects would be on a city if terrorists actually did indeed get ahold of a nuclear weapon and ignite it in a major metropolitan area. Yeah, I know, yields are different and so are buildings - but between the two, it would be a similar situation.

That multiple bomb scenario that was brought up with Tom Tancredo? If this was one of several cities that looked similar in the aftermath - yeah, the response would not be friendly or well considered.

Damn frightening, to be honest.

[Nathan Zachary]

Seems to have cleaned up the place quite nicely.
Mecca needs a dose, as does Tehran, and a couple other places.

[Nathan Zachary]

Nagasaki was a baby nuke by todays standards. what we would toss today is 100 times more powerfull than that. Same goes for what we might expect to be detonated here. Depends on how much fision material they get their hands on.

[Publius6961]

Yeah, I know, yields are different and so are buildings - but between the two, it would be a similar situation.

No, it would not.
The third critical factor is height above target for the explosion. The differences are dramatic.

Fortunately, the odds of a terrorist detonation at optimal height are essentially zero.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

yields are different and so are buildings...

Air burst vs. surface burst...