http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/2004/12/004383print.html
December 20, 2004
"Bin Laden’s dirty bomb quest exposed"
From the Times Online, with thanks to Jeffrey Imm:
ARTICLE SNIPPET: "NEW evidence of Osama Bin Laden’s attempts to acquire radioactive material for a “dirty bomb” has been revealed by an aide to the Al-Qaeda leader.
In a book to be published shortly, the insider shows that Bin Laden bowed to pressure from hawks within the terror group’s leadership to buy the material through supporters in Chechnya. He had initially been cautious about such a dramatic increase in its armoury.
It is the first time that such a senior Al-Qaeda figure has revealed the internal tensions and debates within the group, and shows it was far less unified than had been thought."
Interesting article, thanks Cindy.
I am NOT at all worried about the so called dirty bomb scenario, with nuclear material wrapped around a conventional high explosive. The threat there is mostly psychological. Unless you're standing next to or very near the device and then it's the actual explosion. But the true nightmare (and I'm sure everyone will agree) is the detonation of an actual nuclear weapon, maybe a thermonuclear weapon on US soil. I've seen recent reports that suggest that 2005 may be the year for such an event.