[Dan Evans]

Why does everyone assume that they would use nuclear waste in a bomb. If you set off a bomb this is what will happen:

1) A few people might be killed from the immediate effect of the blast and a few more from radiation.

2) Bomb squad is called & someone checks for radiation.

3) Area (size of a football field) is sealed off. Guys in lead suits clean up.

They could kill more people with box cutters and an airplane.

But on the other hand suppose they just laid the stuff in an area with a lot of pedestrian traffic -- like a mall or the entrance to a sports stadium. People will get irradiated and get sick and die hours later. It will take a long time to trace down the source.

What am I missing?

[meanie monster]

I dunno, they are hell bent on getting us, I'm sure of that, but, I am on the sauce too.

[bonesmccoy]

Well, for one thing, the original report is false.

But, with regards to your discussion of radiological contamination, the US has alot of experience in containing and handling radiation.

Some people are talking tonight about cargo jets being hijacked. I do not see such a hijacking as being related to the use of radiological weapons (just as you seem to think).

The most insidious WMD is biological... it can not be detected until far too late (after people start to become ill and possibly die).

Radiation is fairly easy to detect. Viruses are very difficult to I.D.

Unless the terrorist targets a specific key traffic choke point, you wouldn't have much adverse economic impact by the act of exploding even a dirty bomb.

And, if you consider our major economic trade points, due to the advent of great communications tools, major traffic points could always be rerouted within days.

[Cindy]

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE - Public Announcement: "WORLDWIDE CAUTION"(Read More...)