[TalonDJ]

Maybe you should read what you post.

Furthermore, a HEMP attack must use a relatively large warhead to be effective (perhaps on the order of one mega-ton), and new proliferators are unlikely to be able to construct such a device, much less make it small enough to be lofted to high altitude by a ballistic missile or space launcher.

So some terrorists get their hands on a really big bomb. They can either:
A: vaporize Manhattan and kill millions B: Make all those decadent Americans have to buy new cellphones and TVs, there buy giving Taiwan billions of dollars in chip sales.

[NELSON111]

I know what I posted...and I have not said I thought it would be terrorists...just that that was a possibility. But even the FAS say it is unlikely (but not impossible). Most of the scenarios we work with at DHS regarding terrorists revovle around the 10KT range...so I know that isn't as likely...but it is a possibility (as is almost anything).

The more likley way this would happen would be from a country like North Korea or Iran getting their program together. You don't need that big of a fission bomb to make the BIG leap to fusion. Just a little extra science and a big enough fission yield.

So...I know what I posted. Not really worried about terrorists and EMP. If we were to get EMP'd...it would most likely be by China, Korea or Iran. They all have (or are very close) the technology to do it. You need the device and the launcher.

Of course...any country that uses it better be ready to send a few more nukes (ground impact) to our critical sites (Dc...etc) or they will eventually get nuked by our subs. Since sub drivers don't have the capacity to launch on their own...who ever did thie better completely know out CC.

[DBrow]

“they can either:
A: vaporize Manhattan and kill millions B: Make all those decadent Americans have to buy new cellphones “

Exactly. A terrorist would more likely hide a nuke in a truck than get the kind of missile and guidance system needed to pull off an EMP attack.

A nation-state might include an EMP attack as part of a bigger nuke attack. Even then, the average ICBM does not go high enough (the range required for an EMP shot would be far in excess of the range needed to put one 20,000 feet over a target.

But for a country like North Korea to suddenly use a missile capable of getting 20 miles over Dayton and reliably pop a “big one” is not likely at all.

It’s interesting that the “EMP” articles keep appearing regularly. Like someone wants us to keep worrying about it.