[Focault's Pendulum]

The chief of staff reports that the Americans are planning to bomb Iraq with atomic weapons

This is the only part of the simulation I find a possibility of error. Is there any offered proof other than a chem/bio attack, we would exercise a nuclear option of strategic value rather than tactical?

[monkeyshine]

We would drop the bomb in order to prevent Israel from dropping it, because if they dropped it more heck would break loose from Syria, Iran, etc... If we dropped it, these countries might be persuaded to continue to stay out.