[RightWhale]

all essential services and the rule of law would cease to exist for months if a terrorist nuclear attack occurred.

The ordinary citizens would calm down fairly quickly and restore order on their own and eventually gov't would begin to function again when it is quiet enough.

[wideawake]

The ordinary citizens would calm down fairly quickly and restore order on their own and eventually gov't would begin to function again when it is quiet enough.

That's what experience demonstrates - and of course, the government in this instance has a number of contingency plans that are not predicated on waiting for a request of assistance by state officials.

[bluetone006]

"The ordinary citizens would calm down fairly quickly and restore order "

That isn't the same as the rule of law. I have shot at (well near) people I thought were looters. Maybe they were and maybe they were not. The "lawfulness" of my act was borderline.