Radioactive Materials Missing in Georgia

AP ^

[Dallas]

TBILISI, Georgia --

Three small containers containing radioactive materials are missing from a Georgian military base, officials confirmed Monday.

The containers of cesium-137 disappeared in December from the Vaziani military base in this former Soviet republic, military prosecutor Mamuk Tsaav said. Authorities don't know exactly when the materials disappeared, so they have been unable to determine who was on guard duty at the time.

Georgian officials did not say how much of the material was stolen or whether it was high-grade. Cesium-137 has a number of industrial and medical applications. It is often cited as one of the most likely substances that could be used in a so-called "dirty bomb," in which a conventional explosive device spreads radioactive material.

Soso Kakushadze, head of the radiation security department of the Georgian Environment Ministry, said his department learned of the theft Monday and sent in experts but they were not allowed on the base.

Kakushadze said the containers held calibrated instruments fueled by cesium. The instruments are used to measure radiation levels.

Since the disintegration of the former Soviet Union in 1991, there have been numerous thefts and attempts to smuggle out radioactive materials.

[SamAdams76]

It appears that some radioactive material has been taken from Georgia. Quick, somebody seal the Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina and Florida borders. Do it NOW!

[Damocles]

How far is this from Atlanta?

Oh, you mean the COUNTRY of Georgia. May want to modify the title...

[SamAdams76]

Never mind...

[Laura Earl]

...oh THAT Georgia. Whew!

[alley cat]

I'm not sure I'd say "WHEW"...

coming in a cargo container to a seaport near YOU!

[The_Victor]

Look out Yankees, the South has WMDs.

[Wphile]

ROFLMAO!! The South shall rise again!

[dljordan]

Yeah, it's called Kudzu!

[Dog]

I wouldnt joke about this...

The country of Georgia has a Islamic jihadist problem..

[Conspiracy Guy]

Kudzu is a deadly plant. Ask any slow moving animal south of the Manson Nixon line

[marshmallow]

Bet it's them hillbillies what appeared in Deliverance.

[Chunga]

If it was in the State Of Georgia the city would be spelled "Tubleesee."

[phasma proeliator]

"The country of Georgia has a Islamic jihadist problem.. "

We all have that problem.

[GraniteStateConservative]

South, don't make us come down there.

: )

[The_Victor]

Given the pace of life in the south, the Kudzu is faster than some of the farm trucks.

[The_Victor]

If it was in the State Of Georgia the city would be spelled "Tubleesee."

That's in Macon County, isn't it?

[Conspiracy Guy]

Watch out for farm trucks they aren't as slow as they are rusted.

[Robert A Cook PE]

Instrumentation sources of (relatively mild) Cs137 contain very, very little actual radioactivity.

Could be a problem, but not in this little a quantity.

(Consider if somebody said a radioactive source was missing, but the actual source was the radium from the dial of a 1920's windup watch. Yes, it's radioactive, and yes radium can kill you, and yes watchmakers DID die from painting old watches ... but the radiation on one watch is enough to detect, but not enough to harm.)

[kinghorse]

Ok, the enemy hijacked some planes and cold cocked us. Since then, a couple of their loner loser whack jobs did some half assed attacks, mostly failures except Tunisia and Bali. Nothing, nada, zip, zilch in the USA.

Nobody is attacking. Wonder why. Could it be their handlers don't want to piss us off. I guess we have to go on the offensive to teach them to not fark with us period, end of story. I guess. Seems like these people are reactive not offensive. Shouldn't we just leave well enough alone?

THE ANSWER IS NO. We have to beat the hell out of enemy regimes or our way of life and prosperity will be forever compromised. Nothing is happening, investment-wise until the Iraq azz kicking is administered. Get-r-done.