I do not think the American economy would collapse.  One advantage of having many states is that our government is somewhat decentralized.  However, chances are a large number of our leaders would be killed. Most of the line of succession to the presidency resides in that area.  I also think that although it would be devastating to morale given the current economic slump, the country would also likely experience a coming together as happened during the last national tragedy on 9/11.

Yes, we would go to war without a doubt.  The U.S. has never held with letting an attack on homesoil go by unchecked.  Just consider the precedent--Pearl Harbor: we declare war; September 11th: we declare war.  If D.C. were bombed, it would disrupt our chain of command, but a definite counter-strike would follow.

The economy would not collapse. There would be a fallout but it wouldn't totally crumble. The American economy is complex. It's got many "legs." Even with all of Washington D.C. destroyed, there'd still be the financial centers of others cities like New York, Chicago and Silicon Valley. No single city is responsible for the  health and wellbeing of the U.S. economy.

I'm with Post 2 on this.  The impact would really depend on how people perceived things.  In an objective way, the loss of one city that is not a huge financial or manufacturing center would not be devastating.  However, if people perceived this as a sign that the US was weak and declining, it could be very harmful.

I agree with the previous post. The disruptions, including economic disruptions, that it caused wouldn't go away soon. People would be nervous about investing or spending money, and crucial industries would suffer. The damage wouldn't be because of the physical destruction caused, but rather the psychological effect on the economy.

I think it would be a bit more severe than a short term problem.  Would it mean the end of the United States as we know it... probably not.  The 9/11 attacks caused a short term economic panic.  The nuclear destruction of the nation's capitol would wreak havoc on the US economy. 

I agree with mwalter. I do not think the country would collapse.While it would be devastating to the governmental buildings in DC, there are other places within the United States which could house the meetings which would be necessary to keep the country going.

It would definitely cause economic problems. You'd probably see it first in the stock market. When investors become nervous about economic prospects they usually sell off stock and invest in safer things. When the stock market drops, other aspects of the economy often suffer also.

This doesn't mean that the economcy would "collapse," but it would definitely suffer in the short run.