Actually, I disagree. A "dirty nuke" would most likely not contaminate a widespread are. Hiroshima and Nagasaki, you will recall, were rebuilt in large measure by the mid-1960's. People still pay rent in Hiroshima. Be Seeing You,
Chris
If a dirty nuke is set off in Manhattan, it could contaminate an area reaching as far as Ohio, making property uninhabitable. Who is going to pay mortgages or rent on property they cannot occupy.
Martial Law will almost certainly be declared. I think this is what General Franks is talking about.
Who's more patriotic than our military? This is not a dictatorship by the politicians. Many if not most of them would be arrested. There would be no political parties to put before Country.
Coordination of federal, state, and local law enforcement with the military would be a big part of the temporary "dictatorship." No attempt to disarm law abiding citizens would be made, they are the backup militia.
Though I have known career military that I shudder to think that they would command anything nevertheless the vast majority of the military truly believe in Duty, Honor, Country. How many politicians can honestly say that? For that matter, how many civilian movers and shakers (free trader business leaders, etc.) can honestly say it?
I also know that we have lost permanently more speech, property, and self-protection rights during peace time than we'd lose permanently as a result of a temporary patriotic dictatorship. If we still lose the war.. well, at least we tried. No more "win the battles over there," "lose the war at home" BS like a generation ago.
Actually, I disagree. A "dirty nuke" would most likely not contaminate a widespread are. Hiroshima and Nagasaki, you will recall, were rebuilt in large measure by the mid-1960's. People still pay rent in Hiroshima. Be Seeing You,
Chris