Some months ago I wrote an article outlining why I thought that it was important that the middle east solve their terrorist problem themselves. 

Let me postulate one example reason why. Imagine this scenario:

New York, Fall, 2008. A suicide bomber team has smuggled into the United States a crude 8 kiloton nuclear device. Assembled in lower New Jersey, the team rents a boat and brings it into New York harbor and sets it off. The destruction kills 47,000 people and destroys much of Manhattan.

It turns out that the fissionable material came from Iran from its illicit nuclear weapons program (but not sanctioned by Iran). The terrorist organization responsible, Al Qaeda, declares responsibility and is operating largely in the no-man's land between Afghanistan and Pakistan along with certain outlying areas in Iran.

Thousands march in support of this action in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Syria, and the west bank.

What do you think the reaction of the United States be?