Howard Berkowitz wrote:

:It probably would have been used only after the nuclear threshold had
:been crossed, but that might not mean much to the people near the
:bridge.

I think I disagree with Howard. The point of using these things was
so that you didn't have to unleash tactical nukes on big Soviet tank
formations to stop them. You could just blow all the bridges quickly
and slow them down that way.

By definition, *some* nuclear threshold would have been crossed at
about the time the first one went off, but since these things would be
targeted against infrastructure in advance of the Soviets, it would be
rather difficult for them to claim them as justification for crossing
the nuclear threshold themselves.

They were also another good reason why we declined to sign a 'no first
use' policy. We intended to use these things first, because blowing
all the bridges made good tactical sense.

Unless you're practically living on the bridge, these things aren't
really a problem for neighbors. Don't overestimate effects just
because the bugaboo word 'nuclear' (actually 'atomic') is involved.
They'd have a much bigger problem from that Guards tank regiment going
through their carrot patch if the bridge was left up.

--
"Rule Number One for Slayers - Don't die."
-- Buffy, the Vampire Slayer