[onewhippedpuppy]

The Sum of All Fears is an excellent book. Regardless the source, I think a nuclear attack by a terrorist group is probably inevitable, at some point in the future. To that end, NK or Iran having nuclear capability makes that threat all the more real.

Think about it from the standpoint of Iran or NK. When they do successfully develop weapons and delivery systems, they will most likely be limited in number and technology. Therefore, IF they were to launch an attack, it would be limited in it's destruction. Add to the mix missle defense systems, and it becomes even more dubious. I think it is a very real possibility that the USA has the ability to shoot down or otherwise destroy ICBMs. Odds are the recent satellite target shooting was only the proverbial tip of the iceburg. I'd be willing to bet we have much greater technology than we let on.

So, if you shoot some missles at us, the odds of them hitting us are slim. If they do, it won't be total destruction. On the other hand, whoever attacks us will quickly be erased from the Earth. So, how to hit us? Sneaking a nuke into a major US city(s) is the obvious answer. You get death, destruction, shock and awe, and no accountability. NK or Iran supplies the weapon, and one of the many terrorist groups they support does the dirty work. It's a scary scenerio, and one that's easy to imagine happening.