UPDATE – US military command removes nuke joke amid criticism

ADDS COMMAND'S APOLOGY</p> <p>By Michael Hernandez</p> <p>WASHINGTON (AA) – The combatant command responsible for the U.S.'s nuclear arsenal sparked outrage Monday when it tweeted out a joke appearing to make light of possible nuclear warfare, later removing the post amid an outcry. </p> <p>&quot;#TimesSquare tradition rings in the #NewYear by dropping the big ball…if ever needed, we are #ready to drop something much, much bigger,&quot; Strategic Command said in a post on its Twitter account accompanied by a slickly produced video of a B-2 Spirit stealth bomber dropping a penetrator bomb. </p> <p>The post encouraged viewers to watch the video to the end, which included footage of bombs and missiles being dropped from the B-2 and the penetrator bomb smashing through a target before exploding. </p> <p>The tweet unleashed a maelstrom of criticism and confusion on the micro blogging site before it was taken down. </p> <p>&quot;I don’t get WHY you would tweet this,&quot; wrote @SpicyFiles. &quot;It’s beyond peculiar, as an American I find this horrifically irresponsible. The world knows our Military is always ready. Strength comes in silence vs using twitter to pound our chest.&quot;</p> <p>Added @tumpover: &quot;I'm certainly glad we have you, value your service, &amp; I saw the stealth fly over Mt. Rushmore once, but threatening to drop bombs as peaceful as your New Year's felicitation is inappropriate &amp; not amusing. The goal is NOT to drop bombs!&quot;</p> <p>Later, the command apologized for the New Year's Eve tweet. </p> <p>&quot;Our previous NYE tweet was in poor taste &amp; does not reflect our values,&quot; it said. &quot;We apologize. We are dedicated to the security of America &amp; allies.&quot;</p> <p>*Servet Gunerigok in Washington contributed to this story