Posted on 07/01/2008 5:26:16 PM PDT by ETL
It now has been four years since Dr. William Graham, Science Advisor to President Ronald W. Reagan and Chairman of the General Advisory Committee on Arms Control and Disarmament, and a distinguished panel completed a study of High Altitude Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) and its potential effects upon this country. The conclusions of this study are the most frightening I have seen concerning modern-day threats.
Few have heard of it because the report has yet to be made public. The reason it has not been made public is simple: if EMP were understood by the American people, the next logical question would be what steps the government has taken to reduce the possibility of an EMP attack in this country. To date little has been done. When the American people realize as much, the outrage will be palpable.
EMP is electromagnetic radiation from an explosion (especially a nuclear explosion). The worst of the pulse lasts for only a second but any unprotected electrical equipment - and anything connected to electrical cables, which act as giant lightning rods or antennas - are affected by it. If a nation with a nuclear bomb and the ability to explode it high above an American city were to do so, it would have a massive effect in all directions. Almost immediately all communications systems in the country would be disrupted completely. No radio. No television. No internet. Indeed no electricity at all. Most of the country literally would be in the dark with no possibility of recovering any electrical facilities. We would not be able to run our cars because the gasoline pumps would not work. Water distribution systems would not work.
While there would be few immediate deaths connected with such an explosion, the long-term consequences would be profound. The national power grid would be rendered completely impotent. It would take many months or even years to have it up and running but with no power tools available, accomplishing this likely would be impossible.
There would be no telecommunications. Railroads would be unable to run. Even if the few steam locomotives left were employed, there would be no signal systems and no ability to switch tracks. Our entire financial system would be disrupted because computers would shut down. I could go on but you get the picture. Recovery would depend upon the restoration of electric power, the possibility of which would depend upon whether a part of the country was unaffected and that would depend upon where the bomb explodes.
Graham has made many recommendations which should be implemented to avoid such an attack. (Would that the public now understand the urgency to ensure that Iran does not acquire a nuclear device. Iran already has successfully tested a missile capable of carrying one into the high atmosphere).
Graham asserts that it is essential to pursue intelligence, interdiction, deterrence and defense to discourage an EMP attack. The highest priority is to prevent an attack. Our policies should shape the global environment to reduce incentives to create EMP weapons. We need to make it difficult and dangerous to acquire them.
Graham argues that we need to begin immediately a program to protect critical components of key infrastructures. We must maintain the ability to monitor and evaluate the condition of critical infrastructures. Graham reminds us that the absence of information can make things worse through inaction or incorrect action. Graham points to the blackout of August 13, 2003 as an example of the absence of information leading to inaction. We need to recognize an EMP attack and understand how its effects differ from natural disruptions.
America needs a plan to carry out the systematic recovery of key infrastructures. We must demonstrate the will and ability to recover from any attack. Toward that end we need a special team which frequently reports to Congress. We need to define the responsibilities of the Federal, state and local governments. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) needs to develop a plan for the country in conjunction with local governments and the Pentagon needs a clear plan to keep the Armed Forces functioning in the event of an attack. DHS must establish a senior leadership position with the accountability, authority and appropriate resources to defend against the most serious threats. Graham says that an EMP attack is a credible, potentially catastrophic threat to the United States. He says that the U.S. strategy should balance prevention, preparation, protection and recovery.
The Administration of President George W. Bush has known this for years, yet almost nothing has been done about it. Had he released this report and enforced the panel's recommendations he would be remembered as the President who saved America. Some scientists think the report may be released next month. If so it would behoove Bush to spend his remaining six months in office implementing Graham's recommendations. He cannot begin a moment too soon.
Paul M. Weyrich is Chairman and CEO of the Free Congress Foundation.
Article:
The Next High-Tech Threat to U.S. Security -by Paul M. Weyrich
http://frontpagemag.com/Articles/Read.aspx?GUID=48973533-18B4-4903-BF1A-F083C43B1667
[excerpt]
Of course, he didn't mention that his Commerce Department did everything in its power to assure that it would be unnecessary for the Chinese to steal nuclear or other technological secrets from the U.S. -- that those secrets were for sale.
He was, however, blindsided a few moments later by a follow-up question from Fox News.
"Mr. President, you said just a short while ago that no one has reported to you they suspect Chinese espionage at U.S. nuclear labs during your administration, sir. But sources tell Fox News, and we are reporting this evening that China stole the technology for electromagnetic pulse weapons from several nuclear labs during your first term in office, sir, and that the Chinese have successfully tested these weapons in China. And the sources also say that the administration at least was aware of this. Can you tell us, sir, were you not personally aware? Are you concerned about this? And what will be your administration's response to the report?"
Now watch carefully Clinton's response: "Well, you didn't say what the source of what they sold was."
Did you catch that? What they "sold"! Whether it was a Freudian slip or a simple gaffe, Clinton's assumption was that EMP weapons were sold! He quickly corrected himself, sort of.
"You say they 'stole' -- is that the word you used?" He went on to say he knew nothing about the report, but would look into it.
Much of the press conference was spent by Clinton defending his China policies.
Article:
Clinton and his friends in China -by Joseph Farah
http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=14704
EMP is not that difficult to defend against. Yes certain technologies are more susceptible (semiconductor-based) than in the old (Starfish Prime) days and yes those same technologies can protect those sensitive devices.
The biggest problem is half the replacement parts come from China.
Steam locomotives are ok, but not diesel. Ohhhkay.
Two comments:
First, I have a lot of respect for Weyrich’s opinions. A scary scenario.
And second, make sure you have a gun and good supply of ammo with your survival kit. You will need both.
Hasn’t this been a known military threat for like....40 years?
Many military systems and critical infrastructure sites have been shielded. The BMD program is meant to destroy any small number of warheads that might be used for this...among other uses against missiles.
Of course, Obama, wants to strip us of those defenses.
Could solar and wind power be part of the solution? Or would they be affected as well?
Also that the next big Al-Qaeda attack on the US will involve EMP.
No cheers, unfortunately.
Kinda like we knew there would be gas shortages decades ago?
Actually a steam locomotive would be unaffected. A diesel is actually a diesel electric (several thousand HP diesel drives an alternator which is controlled by electronic circuitry which feeds current to traction motors which make the wheels go round)
That being said, a modern locomotive is an extraordinarily robust piece of electrical machinery, offering perhaps one of the most hostile EMI environments out there. It’s a 4MW power plant on wheels, and if anything could survive a nasty EMP shot, it would likely be a locomotive. Northeast corrider locos are straight electrics and would likely have a rougher go of things.
and visit often for updated news.
Check out the NoBombo Pride PSed photo. LOL
"I did not have monetary relations with that country."
But wouldn’t an EMP knock planes instrumentation and other electronics out, to name just one example?
Yes, Sandia had a big facility brochure about their EMP test facility we could hire to test EMP hardening.
EMP effects were the real reason for fiber optics. They do not even propagate lightning strikes.
"Mr. President, you said just a short while ago that no one has reported to you they suspect Chinese espionage at U.S. nuclear labs during your administration, sir. But sources tell Fox News, and we are reporting this evening that China stole the technology for electromagnetic pulse weapons from several nuclear labs during your first term in office, sir, and that the Chinese have successfully tested these weapons in China. And the sources also say that the administration at least was aware of this. Can you tell us, sir, were you not personally aware? Are you concerned about this? And what will be your administration's response to the report?"
Now watch carefully Clinton's response: "Well, you didn't say what the source of what they sold was."
Did you catch that? What they "sold"!
Remember the Soviet Foxbat that defected to Japan?
People laughed..."Hahaha it's CARBON STEEL, not titanium! It will rust out like a 55 Chevy! Bolt big engines onto an ANVIL and it will fly!".
And LOOK! Hahahaa! The Avionics use little tiny (hahaha) VACUUM TUBES".
Vacuum tubes.
Umm. Oh Sh't. Not affected by EMP...I see..."
He probably didn't know what an "EMP" was and figured 'hey, if they're willing to spend $xxxxxx.xx for this EMP thingy, why the heck not? I can maybe use the dough for some coke, and maybe get laid (looks at Hillary and shudders).'
IMO about 50% of the population would roll up their sleeves and do what they needed to survive. They will be stocked to take care of their families and a neighbor. About 25% (the unprepared neighbors) will be totally lost but pick up skills fast. The other 25%, the take care of me...I need help, people would be the looters,rioters, crazy hippies etc. and be the biggest problem for the rest trying to get by. I can even see our government trying to take our stocks and dividing stuff up...still trying to carry them...because when things are back on line they will need those votes because the people who can take care of themselves will try to run them out of office. JAT
Actually, I don't remember. Thanks for informing me.
Vacuum tubes. Maybe we should go back to them for our computers...
Because the US has ABM defenses, about the only way for such a weapon to be delivered is not by missile, but by aircraft.
Typically, the assumption is that the nuclear devise would be detonated over Kansas, to blanket most of the continental US in the EMP cone. This was a Cold War strategy that makes little tactical sense today.
If China was about to launch an attack on Taiwan, it would be critical that they neutralize the West coast ports of Bremerton, Washington, and San Diego. However, an EMP devise would not neutralize those ports long enough, so it is more likely that two commercial aircraft would be used to deliver airburst or ground burst nuclear weapons.
One would be on a regular approach to Seattle, and the other to LAX or Phoenix, veering South just long enough to be over San Diego, when both aircraft would detonate powerful airburst or ground burst weapons with yields of several megatons, which the Chinese have in their inventory. It would also have to be done with some degree of plausible deniability to prevent immediate nuclear retaliation. That is, the aircraft would be coming in from third countries, and not be flagged Chinese.
Importantly, this would have to be done in conjunction with some other effort to disable the carrier fleet or fleets enough that they would have to return to port. Other assets would attempt to interfere with or delay other aircraft carrier groups arrival as replacements. Since there are no other friendly Pacific ports that can handle full carrier support, the idea would be for long enough downtime for the Taiwan invasion to be carried out.
The Chinese would also have unconventional back up plans to distract America, most likely causing disasters like dam breaks.
EMPing
Geez, I hope the ChiComs aren’t reading this! How on earth do you know all these things?
From a 2003 Washington Post article:
"...a statement [Bill] Clinton made in February 2002, in which he told an audience in Australia, 'This is a unique moment in U.S. history, a brief moment in history, when the U.S. has preeminent military, economic and political power. It won't last forever. This is just a period, a few decades this will last.'
Clinton continued...
'In all probability, we won't be the premier political and economic power we are now' in a few decades, he said, pointing to the growth of China's economy and the growing economic strength of the European Union.
Whether the United States maintains its military supremacy, he said, depends in part on how much those other entities invest in their militaries, and Clinton said working cooperatively is essential to U.S. interests.
But he said he did not want to be misunderstood. 'I never advocated that we not have the strongest military in the world...I don't think a single soul has thought I was advocating scaling back our military.'
Source: Washington Post article from May 2003:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?pagename=article&node=&contentId=A62253-2003Apr30¬Found=true
or find his remarks here (Talon News):
Clinton Predicts America's Decline:
http://mensnewsdaily.com/archive/newswire/nw03/talonnews/0503/newswire-tn-050503d.htm
"'We like your president. We want to see him reelected', former Chinese intelligence chief General Ji Shengde told Chinagate bagman Johnny Chung. Indeed, Chinese intelligence organized a massive covert operation aimed at tilting the 1996 election Clinton’s way."
The Idiot's Guide to Chinagate
By Richard Poe
May 26, 2003
CHINA WILL LIKELY replace the USA as world leader, said Bill Clinton in a recent Washington Post interview. It is just a matter of time. Clinton should know. He has personally done more to build China’s military strength than any man on earth.
Most Americans have heard of the so-called "Chinagate " scandal. Few understand its deadly import, however. Web sites such as "Chinagate for Dummies" and its companion "More Chinagate for Dummies" offer some assistance. Unfortunately, with a combined total of nearly 8,000 words, these two sites – like so many others of the genre – offer more detail than most of us "dummies" can absorb.
For that reason, in the 600 words left in this column, I will try to craft my own "Idiot’s Guide to Chinagate," dedicated to all those busy folks like you and me whose attention span tends to peter out after about 750 words. Here goes.
When Bill Clinton took office in 1993, China presented little threat to the United States. Chinese missiles "couldn’t hit the side of a barn," notes Timothy W. Maier of Insight magazine. Few could reach North America and those that made it would likely miss their targets.
Thanks to Bill Clinton, China can now hit any city in the USA, using state-of-the-art, solid-fueled missiles with dead-accurate, computerized guidance systems and multiple warheads.
China probably has suitcase nukes as well. These enable China to strike by proxy – equipping nuclear-armed terrorists to do their dirty work, while the Chinese play innocent. Some intelligence sources claim that China maintains secret stockpiles of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons on U.S. soil, for just such contingencies.
In 1997, Clinton allowed China to take over the Panama Canal. The Chinese company Hutchison Whampoa leased the ports of Cristobal and Balboa, on the east and west openings of the canal respectively, thus controlling access both ways. A public outcry stopped Clinton in 1998 from leasing California’s Long Beach Naval Yard to the Chinese firm COSCO. Even so, China can now strike U.S. targets easily from their bases in Panama, Vancouver and the Bahamas.
How did China catch up so fast? Easy. We sold them all the technology they needed – or handed it over for free. Neither neglect nor carelessness are to blame. Bill Clinton did it on purpose.
As a globalist, Clinton promotes "multipolarity"– the doctrine that no country (such as the USA) should be allowed to gain decisive advantage over others.
To this end, Clinton appointed anti-nuclear activist Hazel O’Leary to head the Department of Energy. O’Leary set to work "leveling the playing field," as she put it, by giving away our nuclear secrets. She declassified 11 million pages of data on U.S. nuclear weapons and loosened up security at weapons labs.
Federal investigators later concluded that China made off with the "crown jewels" of our nuclear weapons research under Clinton’s open-door policy – probably including design specifications for suitcase nukes. Meanwhile, Clinton and his corporate cronies raked in millions.
In his book The China Threat, Washington Times correspondent Bill Gertz describes how the system worked. Defense contractors eager to sell technology to China poured millions of dollars into Clinton’s campaign. In return, Clinton called off the dogs. Janet Reno and other counterintelligence officials stood down while Lockheed Martin, Hughes Electronics, Loral Space & Communications and other U.S. companies helped China modernize its nuclear strike force.
"We like your president. We want to see him reelected," former Chinese intelligence chief General Ji Shengde told Chinagate bagman Johnny Chung. Indeed, Chinese intelligence organized a massive covert operation aimed at tilting the 1996 election Clinton’s way.
Clinton’s top campaign contributors for 1992 were Chinese agents; his top donors in 1996 were U.S. defense contractors selling missile technology to China.
Clinton received funding directly from known or suspected Chinese intelligence agents, among them James and Mochtar Riady who own the Indonesian Lippo Group; John Huang; Charlie Trie; Ted Sioeng; Maria Hsia; Wang Jun and others.
Commerce Secretary Ron Brown served as Clinton’s front man in many Chinagate deals. When investigators began probing Brown’s Lippo Group and Chinagate connections, Brown died suddenly in a suspicious April 1996 plane crash.
Needless to say, China does not share Clinton’s enthusiasm for globalism or multipolarity. The Chinese look out for Number One.
"War [with the United States] is inevitable; we cannot avoid it," said Chinese Defense Minister General Chi Haotian in 2000. "The issue is that the Chinese armed forces must control the initiative in this war." Bill Clinton has given them a good start.
The Idiot's Guide to Chinagate:
http://www.richardpoe.com/column.cgi?story=125
or,
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2003/5/26/214938.shtml
You’re asking the wrong guy. I have no idea. Try ‘yefragetuwrabrumuy’. :)
Our consumer goods have become more vulnerable and the consumer market has never addressed the issue. I suppose in the case of our infrastructure that creates a demand for shielding and hardening, but as another Freeper posted earlier, that isn't all that difficult.
Why are they so against a system that is designed, not to attack anyone, but solely to protect us from attack?
It's been hard sledding, keeping this program alive against all our enemies in DC...Reagan introduced it - under Clinton, it was pretty much shelved, under Bush it has been progressing - with successful tests.
As to why doesn't Bush divulge everything? Anything 'divulged' to us is also broadcast to the enemies.
The mad man of Iran has been working on an EMP bomb for some time - it is his greatest goal to drop on us...
In the meantime, as some have advised: put up a years supply of food, have your own water/heat source...and keep 'em locked and loaded/
The civilian world would be ground to a halt. On the plus side, CNN couldn't broadcast negative reports about American troops.
Already written into many community Emergency Preparedness Plans.
Do not broadcast that you have storage -
It's not a bad idea to have a core network - but it does no good for 100 people to have stores - which they can then share with another 100 who are willing to roll up their sleeves and dig in to help = but then get those stores confiscated and taken by a thousand. That only means no one makes it.
This article is nothing new.
Perhaps they want us brought down a few pegs on the world stage?
Obama Pledges Cuts in Missile Defense, Space, and Nuclear Weapons Programs
February 29, 2008 :: News
MissileThreat.com
A video has surfaced of Presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama talking on his plans for strategic issues such as nuclear weapons and missile defense.
The full text from the video, as released, reads as follows:
Thanks so much for the Caucus4Priorities, for the great work you've been doing. As president, I will end misguided defense policies and stand with Caucus4Priorities in fighting special interests in Washington.
First, I'll stop spending $9 billion a month in Iraq. I'm the only major candidate who opposed this war from the beginning. And as president I will end it.[i.e. not win it]
Second, I will cut tens of billions of dollars in wasteful spending.
I will cut investments in unproven missile defense systems.
I will not weaponize space.
I will slow our development of future combat systems.
And I will institute an independent "Defense Priorities Board" to ensure that the Quadrennial Defense Review is not used to justify unnecessary spending.
Third, I will set a goal of a world without nuclear weapons. To seek that goal, I will not develop new nuclear weapons; I will seek a global ban on the production of fissile material; and I will negotiate with Russia to take our ICBMs off hair-trigger alert, and to achieve deep cuts in our nuclear arsenals.
You know where I stand. I've fought for open, ethical and accountable government my entire public life. I don't switch positions or make promises that can't be kept. I don't posture on defense policy and I don't take money from federal lobbyists for powerful defense contractors. As president, my sole priority for defense spending will be protecting the American people. Thanks so much.
Article: Obama Pledges Cuts in Missile Defense, Space, and Nuclear Weapons Programs:
http://missilethreat.com/archives/id.7086/detail.asp
"MissileThreat.com is a project of The Claremont Institute devoted to understanding and promoting the requirements for the strategic defense of the United States."
_____________________________________________________________
Obama Promises to Dismantle Our Armed Forces
by Robert Maginnis
Posted 04/10/2008 ET
(Mr. Maginnis is a retired Army lieutenant colonel, a national security and foreign affairs analyst for radio and television and a senior strategist with the U.S. Army)
YouTube has an undated 52-second clip of Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barrack Obama outlining his plans for America’s national defense. Obama’s presentation demonstrates either total naivete about important national security programs or he is just pandering for votes among the extreme left.
[Maginnis does an excellent must-read analysis of Obama's suicidal defense proposals-ETL]
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?print=yes&id=25942
Note: Here is the *original* youtube video from the Obama camp:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7o84PE871BE
Human Events refers to this poor quality copy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dl32Y7wDVDs
From "45 Communist Goals":
Congressional Record--Appendix, pp. A34-A35
January 10, 1963:
1. U.S. acceptance of coexistence as the only alternative to atomic war.
2. U.S. willingness to capitulate in preference to engaging in atomic war.
3. Develop the illusion that total disarmament [by] the United States would be a demonstration of moral strength.
'Goals' 4-45 can be found here or at many other sites through a web search for "45 goals":
http://www.uhuh.com/nwo/communism/comgoals.htm
Scary thought...Survival from our government.
EMP is of no concern to me. It effects are limited, and unless you are dragging a mile long wire out the back of your car, EMP won’t touch it.
I'll bet Clinton didn't know this when the ChiComs 'somehow' acquired the technology during his Chinagate scandal.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2039471/posts?page=1#1
That is one huge locomotive! I can’t even count the number of wheels.
Excerpt from a movie script I am working on.
****Opening of the movie****
EXT. EARTH’S ORBIT
The EARTH floats in space, majestic in its beauty. A shadow quickly engulfs the western hemisphere as the Sun sets. Nighttime’s darkness covers the UNITED STATES and the LIGHTS from the MAJOR CITIES shine bright. In quick intervals, bright flashes blossom over the cities; after the flashes dissipate the cities are dark.
FADE TO SUPER:
I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones. - Albert Einstein
****EMP Scene****
EXT. CENTRAL PARK – NEW YORK CITY – DREAM SEQUENCE
The terrorist’s daydream consists of an image of a radio-controlled balloon lifting off with an unusual explosive payload. Two seconds before the big event, five cables spools are shot from its base, four radial and one axial. These five cables are used as antennae to transfer the full force of EMP bomb. The directed magnetic pulse travels down the length of these wires.
INT. CENTRAL PARK APARTMENT – DREAM SEQUENCE
The terrorist daydream shifts: A non-descript man hears a sharp crack in the distance, he mistakes it for an innocent clap of thunder, however by the time sound reaches his ears, the civilized portion Manhattan has became unglued. The fluorescent light in his kitchen and the television set glows eerily bright, even though they are turned off. He knows the TV and light are off because he has no power. He smells the faint, but growing stronger smell of ozone that is mixed with smothering plastic. Blue smoke seeps from his electrical outlets. The man’s glowing computer screen is a paperweight along with every other piece of electrical equipment he owns.
Looking out his apartment window he notices that every vehicle is stopped dead in its tracks, and for the first time he realizes that Manhattan has been silence. The bomb has effectively thrown New York City back 200 years.
So because you're aware of something means everyone else is too? This article appeared just today.
This article is full of misinformation.
"misinformation"? You mean the author is deliberately misleading us?
What is the EMP “blast radius” per kiloton of a nuke, anyways? And how do the non-nuke EMP weapons work? And what’s their effective range? I can’t believe that a whole country the size of the US could be knocked out by an EMP nuke unless it was several dozen megatons and fired off from near-orbit altitude.
The article gives the impression that he’s breaking some sort of amazing unknown story; that’s what is sort of annoying.
EMP has been discussed openly for decades. Sure, Joe Blow in the street hasn’t heard much about it, but Joe Blow isn’t aware of a lot of things.
It indeed needs to be a multimegaton weapon detonated at a very high altitude. Only way an EMP attack against a large part of the country is happening is from an attack from a well-organized nation-state.
Non-nuclear EMP would have a very localized effect, from what little I’ve read about it.
The US military has been deeply concerned with EMP effects for decades.
Here’s a House Hearing on EMP from 1999 that goes into pretty excruciating detail (as much as they could unclass):
http://commdocs.house.gov/committees/security/has280010.000/has280010_0.HTM
With multi-megaton nuclear detonations over or on Bremerton and San Diego, EMP would be the least of their worries.
Thanks. Very good article. It gets into details about page 18, for those FReepers who just need the facts, ma’am.
Interesting analysis, but the Chinese in your scenario forgot two important factors:
1. The existence of the U.S. naval base at Yokusuka, Japan, homeport of the US Seventh Fleet, centered on Carrier Strike Group 5 (USS GEORGE WASHINGTON [CVN-73]), with Destroyer Squadron FIFTEEN and Submarine Group SEVEN. If the gloves were off, this strike group alone could likely sink an entire Chinese invasion fleet using nuclear weapons delivered by missile and long-range strike aircraft.
2. The existence of the four OHIO-class Tactical Trident guided missile “arsenal” submarines. A truly fearsome weapon, the OHIO-class SSGN boat carries a load of 154 Tomahawk land-attack missiles, plus 66 SEALS, plus a full load of MK48 torpedoes, plus other goodies the Navy won’t talk about. In the event of war, these boats would use their stealth and stationkeeping ability to launch devastating attacks on Chinese shore installations, including barracks, rail marshaling yards, power and pipeline infrastructure, port facilities, airbases, logistics and supply lines, communications facilities, and the like. And there are four such SSGNs.
The Chinese could hurt us badly in a surprise attack. However, any use of nuclear weapons or other WMDs by the Chinese anywhere in the world would almost certainly lead to a thorough and devastating nuclear response in kind by the United States. Should such a retaliatory strike be conducted, the survival of the People’s Republic of China as a functioning political entity would be highly unlikely.
We saw what could be done by incompetent amateurs with deadly intent in the Tokyo subway attacks using neurotoxins. Just a little bit more competence on the part of those people in dispersing the material that they had prepared, and instead of killing a dozen people and permanently injuring a couple of hundred, the likely casualty levels would have been about two orders of magnitude higher. They probably would have killed on the order of 1,000 people and crippled 100,000 just with the materials they had if they had used them in a more effective manner.
So the prospects for terrorists imposing really wide-scale damage by a variety of means these days are peculiarly potent, and EMP just happens to be one of the more technically advanced ways to do the job."
" The low-tech stuff would be what was done at the World Trade Center. The story that Jim Woolsey, former CIA Director, relates there was that the guy who masterminded that particular attack was being taken by helicopter over Manhattan by Federal agents for arraignments, and one of the Federal agents pointed to the World Trade Center and said, it is still standing, and Ramsi Yosef said, yes, but if I had had $5,000 more materials, it wouldn't be.
If they had knocked over the World Trade Center, they would have killed 100,000 people. That is the super low-tech garden fertilizer approach. The medium-tech is the Tokyo subway approach. The high-tech way would be just to destroy the electronic and electrical infrastructure in large part over an entire urban industrial complex with an EMP weapon, a nonnuclear EMP weapon of the type that a very small terrorist group could build.
Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Bartlett a short time ago asked the question about the Koreans potentially detonating a nuclear device off one of our coasts and what kind of damage that would do. Is it feasible in your mind that someone like Osama Bin Laden, who reportedly has a wealth of about $7 billion, could acquire the necessary equipment, ships, SCUD missiles, to detonate such a device? Is that within the realm of feasibility?
Dr. BERNARDIN. I think it is within the realm of feasibility to acquire the launching equipment like a missile. Acquiring the special nuclear materials in order to fashion a nuclear weapon is something that the intelligence agencies would have to address.
Dr. WOOD. Mr. Chairman, if I could just give a very brief personal example that ties some numbers to your question, last year a few of my colleagues and myself, as a demonstration along these lines, offered to take a vanload of equipment which we estimated would cost less than $10,000 and go out and in a fashion that would be totally fingerprint-free destroy a government facility that cost about $1 billion to build, could not possibly be reconstituted now, and would punch a very major hole in the national strategic capabilities, and do so at no risk to ourselves. And the equipment was specifically EMP weaponry. But it obviously didn't involve nuclear energy, and as I said, it packed into a rental van—I mean, an ordinary passenger van.
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