Unfortunately the present range of US nuclear bombs cannot penetrate to sufficient depth to prevent the fireball breaching the surface. A burst might well destroy all possible biological or chemical contaminants - but there will still be a surface burst and fall out.
One hopes it's just deliberate psychological warfare to deter their use by the Iraqi high command. But, as with the previous statement about the "Axis of Evil" and Korea, it may have a far more profound effect on nations other than those at which it was aimed........
Last edited by ORAC; 27th Jan 2003 at 01:17.