US military apologises for tweet about dropping bombs

Published January 2, 2019
US Strategic Command tweeted it was ready to drop something “much bigger” than the traditional Times Square crystal ball at New Year. — File photo
US Strategic Command tweeted it was ready to drop something “much bigger” than the traditional Times Square crystal ball at New Year. — File photo

WASHINGTON: US Strategic Command apologised on Monday for a joke in “bad taste” after tweeting it was ready to drop something “much bigger” than the traditional Times Square crystal ball at New Year.

In a message posted, and later deleted, on Twitter, the military force that controls the US nuclear arsenal released a video in which B-2 bombers drop bombs, with the message: “If ever needed, we are #ready to drop something much, much bigger.”

Amid the jaw-dropping and eye-raising on social media that followed, STRATCOM — whose slogan is “peace is our profession” — then tweeted an apology.

“Our previous NYE tweet was in poor taste & does not reflect our values. We apologize. We are dedicated to the security of America & allies,” it said.

A STRATCOM spokesman told NBC News the images on the video showed non-nuclear bombs.

Published in Dawn, January 2nd, 2019

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