This part caught my eye also:
...Iran has surprised intelligence analysts by describing the mid-flight detonations of missiles fired from ships on the Caspian Sea as "successful" tests. North Korea exports missile technology around the world; Scuds can easily be purchased on the open market for about $100,000 apiece.
A terrorist organization might have trouble putting a nuclear warhead "on target" with a Scud, but it would be much easier to simply launch and detonate in the atmosphere. No need for the risk and difficulty of trying to smuggle a nuclear weapon over the border or hit a particular city. Just launch a cheap missile from a freighter in international waters -- al Qaeda is believed to own about 80 such vessels -- and make sure to get it a few miles in the air.
$100,000 is a pittance when it comes to money for terrorism. No doubt payment in American dollars for the destruction of America. ...describing the mid-flight detonations of missiles fired from ships on the Caspian Sea as "successful" tests... They don't need to land the missiles on land and that's what is eerily proven here.
Nuclear weapons produce EMP, neutrons and blast damage. The type of damage caused is dependent on the construction of the device and the manner of deployment. Optimal results are more difficult than you might think. Still, a real nuke packs a lot more punch than conventional weapons. A clueless deployment will still do lots of damage.