Evidence Points to Dirty-Bomb Plot

Insight ^ | Oct. 29, 2003 | Scott L. Wheeler

[Semper Paratus]

I hope counter-intellgence is on top of this but fear not given the continued fetish with finding boxcutters on planes.

[mvpel]

High-grade uranium is not necessary for this project; ordinary, low-grade nuclear waste will be deadly enough.

If it's "low grade," how is it deadly? A bunch of paper booties from a nuclear power plant contaminated with slightly radioactive dust is not something to strike terror into the heart of man, nor is high-grade uranium a particularly dangerous substance for environmental contamination. My in-laws' granite countertop probably gives off more radiation than a uranium-based dirty bomb would.

I wish these reporters would educate themselves before spouting this kind of nonsense.

[trebb]

Low Grade doesn't mean it's totally impotent - it just isn't suitable for making nukes that go kapow. Drink an ounce of water that is 25% cyanide and you will be just as dead as if it were pure cyanide.

[mvpel]

If someone was going to make a dirty bomb, we'd be blessed if they used uranium. If they used cesium, found as a radiation source in medical and industrial applications, it would be an entirely different story.

[theDentist]

"I wish these reporters would educate themselves before spouting this kind of nonsense."

I'm no expert in physics or radiation, but I do know 1 thing: Fear sells.

[PetroniDE]

How about this message to the terrorists?

If you detonate one dirty bomb in the U.S., we nuke Mecca to the "promised land".

[ConservativeMan55]

I think they should just go ahead and Nuke Mecca for posterity.

[ASA Vet]

we nuke Mecca to the "promised land".

Why waste a nuke on a religious site?

Use it on the home town(s) of the terrorist(s)

[Riley]

Fear sells.

Good point. If an attack occurs that scatters radiological material, the stuff doesn't need to be any more radioactive than watch-dial Radium. Al Q can depend on the American media to do most of the work for them: we'll no choice but to treat it as a full-blown radiologic incident- closing down the affected area and downwind, carting off topsoil, etc.

[playball0]

Unfortunately, it wouldn't work, because these terrorists are nihilist and as such, think everyone should fight the good fight for Allah. Of course, who gave them the power to decide for eveyone remains a mystery.

The threat should be toward everyone financing and supporting them. Try threatening Iran & Saudia Arabia. Come to think of it, I believe we have with our move on Iraq. Well done GWB.

[ASA Vet]

think everyone should fight the good fight for Allah

I'm not interested in their thought processes, (if any.)
My solution was just straight forward simple elimination of the town.
Repeated as often as required.

The Orkin Man doesn't try to convince cockroaches to be nice.

[Grampa Dave]

Hey ASA, is ido_now insulting your tribe here?:

Evidence points to the fact that this story is forAS-HOLES.

[I_love_weather]

Merry Christmas

[RetiredArmy]

Oh, the socialist democrats would never stand for that. Too many votes for them over there. Future voters in Kaliforniastan also.

[jerseygirl]

Is there a picture of this guy available?

[Redbob]

I favor the "self-illuminating, glass-bottomed parking lot" solution, as applied to camel-land generally.

[ASA Vet]

One of the nice things about your solution is that there's little difficulty
with drilling and pumping oil though a couple feet of glass.