UNITED STATES: Strategic Command was forced to apologise yesterday after tweeting that it was ready for nuclear war this new year.

Tagging the drop of an illuminated ball in Times Square that marks the start of the new year in New York, it tweeted that it was “ready to drop something much, much bigger,” accompanying the tweet with an image of a B2 bomber dropping bombs.

It now says the tweet was in “poor taste” and did not reflect its values which were embedded in its motto “peace is our profession.”