US Nuclear Command Apologizes For Bomb-Dropping Tweet

The United States Strategic Command, which oversees the country's nuclear arsenal, apologized Monday for a Twitter message in which it said that it was ready, if necessary, to drop something "much, much bigger" than the New Year's Eve ball in New York. 

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"#TimesSquare tradition rings in the #NewYear by dropping the big ball ... if ever needed, we are #ready to drop something much, much bigger," the tweet said, hours before the midnight descent of the illuminated ball in New York's Times Square marking the arrival of the new year.

The video showed a B-2 aircraft dropping bombs, followed by explosions on the ground.

The message sparked outrage on social media.

The former head of the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, Walter M Shaub Jr, tweeted: "What kind of maniacs are running this country?"

Joe Cirincione, the author of “Nuclear Nightmares, Securing the World Before it is Too Late,” said:" At first, I did not believe this could be real. But it is. It is an industry ad doubling as a sick, bragging joke by our Strategic Command. Disgraceful."

Some netizens (citizens of the net) managed to save the tweet before it was deleted Monday. 

For a strategic command who uses the tagline, “peace is our profession,” for many their tweet revealed their war hawk mentality.

Later Monday, the message was deleted from the U.S. Strategic Command's Twitter feed. A new message said, "Our previous NYE tweet was in poor taste & does not reflect our values. We apologize. We are dedicated to the security of America & allies."