[swaghauler]

When I read the Twilight 2013 timeline, I find it hard to believe that China could put forces on US soil to disrupt our government. Instead, I believe that China and Russia (beginning to experience losses due to Western Technological Superiority) might hatch a plan to exploit our "Achilles heel." We are very dependent on electronic technologies for command and control. The Russians and Chinese would have great difficulty in approaching our shores or operating in the shallow waters of North Western Europe without us sinking their subs. A couple of Russian Subs may be able to hit a few key US cities, but between US Patriot and THAD missile systems this would be problematic. A stealth approach using retrofitted cargo ships could be used to "incapacitate" US command and control in a way. These ships would not have the capability to target the missiles they carried accurately; but they could launch those missiles into the stratosphere over the target area and use the EMP effect to knock out all of our electronic devices. Consider that when we did the tests at Bikini Atoll, the detonation knocked out electricity in Hawaii 1500 miles away. Once the attack was initiated, we would, of course, counter attack. This would level command and control assets (at least in the civilian sectors) on both sides. The chaos in the major cities without power would be terrible. If it were followed up with "precision strikes" on high priority targets; you would have major chaos with minimal nuclear fallout. This would be the scariest type of nuclear war because you can almost justify doing it.