[rs79bm]

Are there any science-type FReepers out there who know what 180 lbs of nuke material can do?

Here's my reply to your post:, from afore mentioned article in WND:

The CFR report states that such radioactive substances are not always well-guarded. The report says, "The [International Atomic Energy Agency] notes that virtually every country has radioactive substances that could be used to make dirty bombs." It cites a U.N. report stating "Iraq tested a one-ton radiological bomb in 1987 but gave up on the idea because the radiation levels it generated were not deadly enough."

[ayoshida]

That depends upon how many people you want to kill and how much damage you wish to cause.

I suspect that a hundred pounds of the material, properly dispersed, would do a lot of damage in, say, a football stadium.

Especially if combined with other means of attack.