I just have to say: we have to dispel this hysteria about using nukes.
No, I don't mean we should launch ICBMs. But we have small tac-nukes that we never use that could truly strike fear into an enemy that DOES. NOT. FEAR US.
They know we have limits and rules in warfare and dont respect us. They love to yank our tail and every time they do, it emboldens their next generation.
There is no shame in using a weapon. I dont like civilian causalities either. But if you dance around them, the same people become human shield, the wives keep making kids and those sons of dead fathers and their brothers come back in 10 years to start vendettas.
Its not the actual destruction of the nuke that wins. Its the psychology of it. Yes, its a brutal, disgusting invention that stands as evidence of horror in our species, and thats exactly why you have to let people remember we have them.
Because make no mistake, they are coming for us. Europe, specifically England, botched and let some Paki scientist loose with nuclear production secrets, and the MidEast and south Asia has already figured out enough. They are coming.
And just like Al-Qaeda, they dont need to overthrow the US to win. All they have to do is disrupt the shit out of us constantly with dirty bombs and suit-case nukes.
tl;dr- we should drop not one but several small nukes anywhere in the Mid East where militants are posing a direct threat to US forces. The first one gets the cameras rolling. The second one- same day, thats important- is pretty much just for show, some hill that wont be missed. Wait a day and then double up on some stronghold and then sit back and wait for threats of vengeance, then use conventional carpet bombs on whats left.
Between panic, shock and uncertainty, they will be on the run within a week and Earth will remember not to fuck with the United States again. You have to make examples of these little shits.