Is a fictional, scorched earth code-name where in the U.S. military decides to cut it's losses and destroys, through carpet bombing, the U.S.'s own territories and/or cities that are deemed lost to enemy forces. The term was first used in the movie Cloverfield, followed by the video-game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.
In COD:MW2 the Hammer-Down Protocol is a scorched earth policy through indiscriminant, large scale carpet bombing of the city of D.C. do to the heavy number of Russians in the area.

It is very similar in application and purpose in Cloverfield. However, it is used for the reason of an all-or-nothing attempt to destroy the monster, as well as the small parasites that had no-doubt flooded Manhattan.
by Dead Hand August 21, 2013
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