First of all, ICBMs, such as the LG-118 peacekeeper or the minuteman III, are only launched to strike overseas. The W87 warhead, with the physics package, is designed to arm after reentry into Earth's atmosphere. This missile also travels at the speed of Mach 24, which would give barely enough time for its inertial guidance system to track a target within the US.. Submarine launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) usually reach their target within five to ten minutes, and are equipped with a different guidance system for close range tracking. Whoever was targeted with these LAND BASED ICBMs seen in Jericho, is probably overseas, considering the TV producer consulted with the proper specialists. The way the show is going now, I doubt it. I laughed when radioactive fallout washed down onto Jericho and twenty minutes later they were drinking beers and running around soaking in the rays. A ground burst with a 20 Kt weapon would produce a terrible amount of fallou emitting alpha, beta, and gamma radiation which would be very unsafe for about two weekst. A ground burst is also very inefficent, and most of out weapons are programmed to detonate approximately 300 metres overhead of he target to maximize overpressure and destruction. Note that an airburst is much cleaner with significantly less fallout.

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Wherever the ICBMs may have been directed, it is probable that they were fired blindly. The leaflet carried in the Chinese supply drop is probably asking Americans not to retaliate, and that the attack was definitely an inside job. We learn about this of course in episode 18.

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