U.S. Strategic Command announced in a press release yesterday the wrapup of its “Global Thunder 21” annual nuclear war exercise. The nine-day command and control exercise focuses on realistic training scenarios for nuclear readiness of U.S. forces around the world, allied nations and partner organizations, UPI reported citing the release. “It is designed to deter and defeat a simulated strategic attack against the United States,” it said. The exercise, Stratcom explained, is essentially a rehearsal for nuclear war, but it is not a U.S.-only exercise as Stratcom also noted the participation of personnel from the U.K. and Australia.